Homestuck x reader

Cats n' cappuccinos (Roxy x reader)

(A/N: once again... a coffee shop au... Featuring Meulin and Jake!)

It was fair to say that you enjoyed your job as a barista. The pay was good, your coworkers cheerful and you were always surrounded by the smells of coffee, hot chocolate and pastries. Also the cafe itself was a very cozy place filled with plants of all sorts that you and your coworkers, Meulin and Jake, constantly had to change every day.

You worked the afternoon shift, because you had worked the morning shift once and went home crying, so you just always told the manager that you were available in the afternoons, so there you were, at the least busy part of the day. And you enjoyed it quite a lot. Meulin and Jake, the extroverts they were, enjoyed working both the morning and afternoon shift, so you were saved the stress of angry, cranky customers in the wee hours of the day.

The people who came in were usually fairly mellow, seeing as they had already had their morning caffeine fill and were relieved to get off from work for the day.

There was one girl in particular that came in, that you were happy to call your friend. Her name was Roxy, and she was a student at the local college.

She came in during the later hours of the afternoon, when her classes were done. She would always order a cappuccino with caramel drizzled all over the top. She would sit by the window and lay out her papers and laptop, studying. Or at least, it looked like studying.

Since the start of autumn, you had seen Roxy in the cafe almost every day. She would come in, practically glowing in the orange-gold autumn light, a bright smile on her face as she lugged her heavy, bright pink book bag to her table.

Then, Roxy would race up to the counter, lean across it and say in her heavy New York accent, "I'll have the usual cappuccino with a BOATLOAD of caramel on top!"

You would always gladly serve her and when you would hand the cup over, she would make sure to brush against your hand and wink at you while saying, as a sound effect, "WONK!" which made you blush slightly.

That was how it had been at the start of autumn. It had also been that way throughout winter and the beginning of spring.

But, as spring progressed, you began to notice a gradual change in Roxy. Her bright smile when she came in was beginning to fade. Her gelled and styled blonde hair was beginning to look slightly unwashed and got messier every week. Under her large, pretty, alarmingly pink eyes, shadows and bags were beginning to appear.

During this time, Jake, who was a close friend and classmate of Roxy, began to gain the same appearance of intense fatigue.

"Jake?" you asked one day. "Are... are you okay?"

"I'm... yeah... I... I'm feeling bully today, (Name)... why?"

"You've been staring at the ceiling for a long time and you're making that guys latte overflow." You pointed at the drink in question, which Jake had been pouring cream into. It was indeed overflowing, warm cream running down over Jake's fingers. He cried out and let go, dropping the cup and spattering coffee all over the tile floor.

"Oh blast!" He started to kneel down to clean it up, but you put a hand on his shoulder.

"Jake," you said soothingly. "I think you should head back to your place and sleep."

"But-"

"Rest up and then-"

"I CAN'T!" he snapped. "I HAVE TO FINISH MY FRIGGIN' SHIFT AND THEN I HAVE TO STUDY FOR AT LEAST 2 FLIPPIN' HOURS BECAUSE EXAMS ARE COMING UP AND I HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN REVIEWING AND I NEED THE DEVILFUCKING MONEY AND THERE'S NO- TH-THERE'S NO FUCKIN'..." at this point his face began to flare up, red blotches appearing on his tanned cheeks and nose and forehead and tears began to pour from his puffy, tired eyes. He sank to the floor, sobbing into his hands. Meulin came out of the back at that point and saw what was going on. You made eye contact and silently agreed on what to do.

"Come on, Jake," you said as gently as you could manage. He slowly stood up and, guided by you, took a seat at a table. The customers stared curiously.

Meulin came back from behind the counter and tapped you on the shoulder.

"I texted hiss girlfuriend. She's going to pick him up."

"Thanks, Meulin."

10 minutes later, Jake's girlfriend came into the cafe and spotted Jake, who was now swaying in his seat, in a daze. She raced over.

"Jake! Holy crap, are you okay?! Come on, let's get you home." She gently led him out the door, into her car and drove away.

"... You're welcome," you muttered to the door. As you went back behind the counter, the door dinged and in walked Roxy, looking back over her shoulder at the street. She turned towards you, brow furrowed.

"That was Jake... right?"

"Yeah," you said, prepping for her cappuccino. "He kinda had a meltdown."

"Aw, poor Jakey," she moaned.

"What does that school do to you guys?!"

"It's finals week. Just finals week kickin' everyone's asses."

"Oooh," you said. "Right... I forgot it was finals season."

"Yeah..." Roxy replied sleepily. She dropped her bag under her table, plopped down into her seat and lay her head on the table. As you poured the milk into the coffee, you could hear her snore.

You decided to let her sleep as you took out a pen and started doodling a cat on the side of the paper cup. You gave it a speech bubble (with cat ears) and wrote "Get some sleep tonight, 'k? The cookie's free."

You stepped softly over to her table and set the cup down. After a second, you went back behind the counter and picked out a chocolate chip cookie. You placed it in a small wax paper bag and set it next to her coffee.

You then sat behind the counter and watched Roxy. You hoped she would actually get decent sleep and not pull an all-nighter. From the looks of it, if she even attempted one, she would have to go to the hospital.

You suddenly wondered if she was single. Who could resist someone like Roxy, who was fun and enthusiastic, imaginative and confident? ... And pretty, you added.

Roxy's hair slid in front of her face. It would float up with every exhale. You found yourself wanting to brush it out of her face, graze her rosy cheek with your fingers. You wondered what sort of chapstick she used. Her lips always looked so smooth and pink. Was it flavored? Perhaps peach? Or watermelon?

You sat up and looked down at your hands. What were you doing? Were you actually fantasizing about Roxy? Was it possible you had unconsciously developed a crush on her over the months?

A hand clamped down on your shoulder and you turned to find Meulin staring at you, eyes practically popping out of her skull and sharp teeth bared in a wide grin that seemed to split her face.

"I smell a SHIP." she said in a quiet, breathy, desperate-sounding voice, like a thirsty man in the desert who just glimpsed an oasis.

~~~~~

When Roxy awoke about an hour later, she blinked a couple times before she saw the cat drawing on her cup, which had gone cold. Her tired face lit up as she spotted that and the cookie. The cookie was gone in 5 seconds flat and she downed the coffee in the same amount of time.

You watched her do all that with a small smile on your face as you prepared hot chocolate for a little boy that had just ordered. You turned back to your work and you heard her approach the counter. You heard her place something on the counter. When you turned around and handed the drink to the small boy, you saw that it was the money and a tip.

"That's a cute cat ya drew on my cup! And thanks for the cookie. Soooo," she said, tracing her finger on the counter. "Do ya mind if I order another cap? I'm in need of some extra study fuel today. But I promise to get some logs sawed tonight, 'k? For you, (Name)."

"Coming right up, hun." You mentally face palmed when you realized you called her 'hun'.

Roxy's eyebrows went up a notch and her cheeks went pink.

"WONK!" She winked very obviously at you before heading back to her seat, grinning.

Your face was red the entire time you made the cap. When you wrote Roxy's name on the cup, you felt breath on the back of your neck.

"Draw," whispered Meulin in your ear. "Draw anofur cat... and a pickup line."

She leaned closer.

"The ship... it must sail..." She skipped away, giggling. You simply stood there, wondering what demon had possessed Meulin today.

You doodled a cat in a teacup. And wrote "You look cute in that outfit!"

You looked over at Roxy. She wore a denim brace skirt, a purple shirt with MEOW on it, a black choker, tights with cat faces on the knees and black converse. Yep. She was cute alright.

When you set the cup on the table, Roxy glanced up from her papers and gave you a bright grin.

"Nice and hot! Just how I like it!... the coffee, too."

You blushed and scampered behind the counter. Meulin looked at you expectantly.

"She beat me at the pick-up line game," you whispered. You and Meulin peeked over at Roxy, who was chugging the coffee.

"Roxy has played the flirting game befur," Meulin said in a serious whisper. "She's expurrienced, I can tell mew that. But she's been turned down many a time. She hiss tired of being disappawnted. I suggest mew do not stalk around hiss oppurrtunity fur too long."

"How do mew know all that?" you asked. Then blinked in realization. "I mean you."

Meulin chuckled. "Oh, I can tell a lot about a purrson's quadrant life just by examining them fur a while. Fur example, mew yourself-"

"Ok, ok," you shut it down before she could remind you about your romantic history. You watched as Roxy checked the clock, and began packing her things up. She stood up, waved at you and Meulin and started for the door, then turned around, picked up the cups and took them with her down the street.

"She's flushed fur mew, too!!!" Meulin squealed.

"R-really?"

"Mew bet! She wouldn't have taken the cups back to her hive unless she had sentiment fur them."

"She could've just liked the doodles."

"And she could've taken a picture on that pink bedazzled phone of hers, but she took the real thing instead. That's a sign of a flush crush!"

She took a minute to calm herself.

"Ok... just wait until next week when their finals are done! THEN FUR THE LOVE OF GOG SAIL THE FURICKING SHIP!"

~~~~~

For the rest of the week, neither Roxy not Jake set foot in the cafe. Jake called in sick for the rest of the week. You hoped they were both okay.

On Tuesday, when you walked into the cafe to take your shift, you were greeted with a surprise.

Jake stood behind the counter, talking to Meulin. He looked much better than when you had last seen him.

"Jake! You're back!" you exclaimed. He looked up at you and smiled.

"Back and ready for action!" he said jovially. Then the smile faded a bit.

"Erm, (Name), Meulin... I do apologize about my blunder and explosive malarkey last week. Thunderations, I was a frightful douchemuffin, wasn't I?"

"It's alright, Jake. It was the finals talking. How do you think you did?"

"Egad, I HOPE I got a passing grade! Zoology is so blasted hard!!"

~~~~~

It was nearing evening. The sun began to set outside, and customers began to leave. You and Jake and Meulin talked about school and gossiped about customers, but you were only half-listening. You kept casting glances out the door, waiting. Would Roxy even drop by today? Perhaps she wouldn't. She might've been out celebrating with her other friends.

You sighed and began to wipe down the tables. You heard the door ding and ignored it. It was probably someone there for their after-work coffee. No reason to look up at all.

"Heeeeeeyyyyy!!!" came a loud voice from behind you. You recognized the voice and whirled around.

It was Roxy. She looked absolutely sublime. She wore a short, strapless pink dress with black spandex shorts visible underneath, combat boots and a necklace with pink flowers on it. She even wore makeup. She looked like she was going on a date.

"Hi Roxy!" you said, smiling at her. "You look awesome!"

"Thanks!" she said as she smoothed out her skirt. "Are ya closin' up or can I order a cap?"

"Oh yeah, coming right up!"

As you walked past Roxy, she pouted.

"Aww, no 'hun' this time?"

"Um..." you fumbled for words. "Sorry... but aren't you going on a date? You look like you are."

"Well..." she furrowed her brow, thinking. "I guess you could say that."

You decided it wasn't a no and started up the machine.

"Ya know," Roxy said. "You have quite the booty, anyone ever tell ya that?"

"U-uh..." your tongue seemed to be swelling. "Not that I think so."

"Hmm. It jiggles when you wipe down the tables."

You were pretty sure you were bright, bright red by this point.

"O-okay."

You dumped what you were sure was too much caramel even for Roxy onto the coffee and placed it on the counter with shaky hands. Roxy stared at you, eyebrows arched.

"You okay, (Name)?"

"Y-yeah. I'm... fine."

"..." Roxy paid for the coffee and sat at her table, gazing out the window.

You heard a slight rustle and a wax bag was thrust in front of your face. Meulin looked like she was ready to explode from excitement.

"Draw on the bag, then give her a cookie fur free," she whispered.

You took the bag, not wanting to argue with someone who looked like they would kill you if you refused.

You began doodling as many cats as you could onto the bag. Fluffy ones, skinny ones, small ones, big ones, happy ones, all sorts.

When the ink finally dried, you grabbed a cookie and dropped it into the bag, then went around the counter over to Roxy's table and tried to put it down without disturbing her from her daydream.

But wax paper bags were not meant to be quietly placed. As you tried to place it quietly, it crackled and Roxy snapped out of la la land and looked up at you.

"On the house," you said shortly. You retreated to the back room before she could say anything.

You sat down on a bench and put your head in your hands. She had said that she was probably going on a date. What were you doing?

"Psst!"

You looked around and spied Meulin poking her head in. She dashed in and shut the door behind her.

"She's asking if mew're okay. Are mew?"

"Yeah, but..." you sighed. "Meulin, she said she might be going on a date tonight."

Meulin didn't answer. You watched as a green blaze began to grow behind her cat-like eyes.

"I'll be right back." she said slowly.

"W-wait! Meulin!" but your words fell on deaf ears, literally. Meulin had already turned her back to you and marched to the counter.

"HEY!" she roared at Roxy. Poor Roxy jumped in her seat and looked at Meulin confusedly.

"GET OVER HERE!" Roxy quickly got out of her seat and came to the counter somewhat hesitantly. "MEW KNOW THAT GIRL IN THE BACK ROOM?!"

Meulin tried to gesture to the back room, but only succeeded in hitting you in the face. She twisted and saw you holding your cheek. A hand flew to her mouth in embarrassment.

"Oh. Sorry, (Name)." She glanced at Roxy, then back at you. "Mew two need to sort something out right meow."

Meulin took hold of you and shoved you at the counter. She made an 'I'm watching you' gesture as she went into the back room.

"Sort out what now?" Roxy asked.

"Oh," you replied, looking down at your shoes. "Meulin's just being a little weird today."

"Ah. What time does your shift end?"

"Not until 8. Why?"

"Just thinkin' about how much coffee I'm gonna need while waitin'."

'For her date to pick her up?' you thought.

"I hope your date goes well. They sure are lucky to have you. You're quite a catch!"

"Aw! Well, ya certainly did reel me in! WINKITY WONK!" she winked at you.

It took you a long two minutes to realize what Roxy was getting at.

"W-wait... Do you... I mean... Am I..."

"I was thinkin' we could hit up that nightclub down the block then go watch a movie at my place. That sound good?"

"... Y-yeah... I mean yes! YES! Absolutely!"

"AW yeah!!!" Roxy's fists shot up into the air. Then she gasped intensely.

"We gotta make this shit OFFICIAL!"

She reached across the counter, grabbed your shirt, and pulled you into a spontaneous kiss. Your brain seemed to slam on the brakes as her warm, soft lips touched yours.

When she started to pull away, your mind seemed to flash into fast forward to make up for the halt.

'So,' you thought. 'That's what kissing a girl is like. It's nice.'

You could taste coffee, caramel... and peach chapstick.

~~~ Epilogue ~~~

Poor Jake was in the back room with Meulin when you and Roxy kissed. Meulin screeched so loudly, Jake could only hear ringing in his ears for the rest of the night.