Sanders Sides One Shots

Dead inside - Prinxiety

Virgil's a barista who really hates his job and existing in general. Roman is the customer who likes to order the most complex drinks and Virgil hates him for it. In retaliation Virgil always spells his name wrong.

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Every day, the same. Well, every work day that is. Every day Virgil would walk through the doors of the cafe, head hung low usually to avoid any unnecessary communication before he starts a shift. Then he's behind the counter, a small fake smile on his face to try and not make the customers feel uncomfortable as he prepares and completes their orders. Nothing out of the ordinary, it's somewhat therapeutic for him, the process of making the similar drinks over and over. It's easy enough. That is until he walks in.

Him. With the perfect hair, standing straight, his bag slung over one shoulder. Usually dressed in the latest fashions - he's fairly fond of his bomber jackets and ripped jeans but not in the unpopular way Virgil would wear them - or he's dressed like he's just come from some sort of practice, a little sweaty and exhausted but still gorgeous. The first time he saw him, Virgil's heart stopped. That was until he opened his mouth.

The most complicated, convoluted order fell from his lips. And Virgil had to ask him to repeat it, not because he was too entrapped by his beauty but because he was ordering too many things far too quickly. Virgil sighed and made it, eyeing up the other every so often. He paused at the last minute though, recyclable cup in hand and pen ready to write the beautiful man's name upon it. He paused, smirked, and wrote - 'Ramen'. He poured his order into the cup and handed it over with a too big of grin. The man thanked him and stopped, looking at the cup before rolling his eyes and leaving.

He must have thought it was a one time thing, that the barista misheard him and tried to make it up. He wasn't misheard though, Virgil knew exactly what he was doing. He was getting a little petty revenge at the other ordering something so ridiculous. So, it continued. The man would walk in, state his order and his name again, clearer next time, and Virgil would nod and make it, putting the wrong name on the cup and smiling at him as he took it, as if he'd done nothing wrong at all.

And these little interactions, little moments of joy, make Virgil feel that little bit better about his shitty day and his shitty job. So, he keeps doing it even if it's just to see the annoyance in the man's eyes. What he doesn't expect is for the man to finally retaliate. The day before the man came in, ordered, waited. Virgil mixed it up, instead of writing the usual 'Ramen' on the cup he wrote 'beef', maybe his tired brain thought it was a good idea or maybe he was high on the coffee fumes.

But Roman walks in, gives a soft hello and starts to order. Virgil's writing it all down on the side of the cup to make sure he doesn't miss anything. Only it's different, there's numbers in the mix and Virgil's accidentally writing them on the cup.

"Um, what- what are those?" Virgil asks hesitantly, surely the order can't get any more complicated. "Those fine digits are my number. Call me," Roman answers with a shrug, smiling a little in a more comforting way. "Oh, uh, okay," Virgil says, his face flushing as he sets the cup aside and reaches for another, "sorry, I'm going to need your order again." Roman smiles, "no problem, uh... I'll have a caramel latte please."

"You don't want the usual?" Virgil asks, slightly taken aback and confused. Roman's cheeks pinken a little this time, he avoids Virgil gaze and mumbles back, "not really, I only ordered something so complex to get your attention." Virgil wants to laugh at how stupid it is but Roman looks sheepish and sort of embarrassed so he doesn't. "Okay, one caramel latte coming right up," Virgil responds getting to work.

Roman stands and waits nervously, unsure of what Virgil's making of all this. His order is set down in front of him and Virgil walks away to serve someone else. On his cup written in dark marker is 'Roman' followed by a number and three kisses; he's got Virgil's number but more importantly he got his real name on the cup. This is progress.