Work Text:
Kaminari loves his job.
He loves the smell of coffee beans and freshly-baked desserts that greets him the moment he push open the glass doors of the coffee shop he's working at, he loves the satisfying feeling everytime he makes a perfectly-shaped whipped cream, and he absolutely loves the people he's working with. Not that he'll admit the last one, of course.
Sure, there are downsides of his job. Like when an angry mother shouts at him for getting her order wrong when he's absolutely sure she only asked for a fucking cup of water, when a kid starts crying whenever they drop their cookie on the floor which is not his fault and gets shout at by another angry mom, and Bakugou Katsuki.
Not that he hates Bakugou, it's just that he's always like he's on his man-period and explodes at everything which leads to people getting scared of him and never coming back to the coffee shop again.
Less customers = Less money. Kaminari needs money.
Good thing that Kirishima came, though. Bakugou became less explodey and more friendly. Ah, what love does to people.
Kaminari yawns as his last class drew close to an end, jumping up from his chair and shoving his things carelessly in his bag when he heard the school bell ring, announcing the end of the school for today.
He's grateful that he has an afternoon shift, even more grateful when he still has five minutes to spare before his shift starts.
He jogs right up to Plus Ultra Caffeine, the coffee shop he's working at, and inhales his most favorite scent when he enters. The blond greets Todoroki, a co-worker of his, with the brightest grin he could muster and all he got was (as always) a grunt and a nod in return. Kaminari pauses his steps and quirks a brow up at him.
"You look even angstier than usual, dude. What's up?" Kaminari leans against the counter and rests his elbow on it, supporting his weight.
Todoroki only shakes his head. "Nothing."
Kaminari may be stupid at a lot of things, but reading people's expression is something he considers himself a master on. He clearly knows that the tall boy is lying, is upset, and he knows exactly why.
"Did Midoriya not visit you again?" The blond snorts when he witnesses Todoroki choke on his own spit and flush as red as the red part of his hair. Maybe even darker, honestly. Kaminari almost wants to whip his phone out from his pocket and take a quick snap of his friend's lowest moment right now, but he decides to take pity. He's not that evil.
"That's not it." Todoroki tells him after he recovers from his shame and embarrassment and wow, did his voice just crack? Truly black mail material. He needs to tell Midoriya about this.
Kaminari is about to retort again when he hears a gruff voice come from behind him.
"Stop acting like little fucking kids, you fools."
Kaminari jumps a little and places a hand over to where his heart is. "Don't scare me like that, Bakubro!"
Bakugou rolls his eyes at him and scowls, "S'not my fault you're a fucking wimp." His eyes then zeroes at Todoroki and gives him a smirk. "What's gotten his panties up in a twist?"
"Midoriyー"
"Kaminari! Your shift's up!" Sero calls from where he suddenly appears beside Todoroki, who obviously inflates from relief and shoots him a quick death glare before removing his apron. Kaminari only beams at him.
Time passes by until came the afternoon where the coffee shop becomes quiet and empty, save for a few stressed students typing furiously away on their laptops or frantically shoving their face in their text books trying to study. Kaminari can't relate. Studying, he believes, is some form of torture.
Kaminari sighs and leans against the counter, resting his cheek on his palm and is close to falling asleep when he hears the glass doors being opened, signifying that a new customer.
He forces himself to stay awake and rapidly rubs his eyes awake, straightening up and puts a big smile on. "Welcome to Plus Ultra Caffeine! What can I get you?"
The blond's smile fades a little as he raises his head to properly look at the customer and the first thing that comes to his mind is 'oh my god, is this person okay?'
The customer has an unruly purple hair that sticks out at all angles and the bags under his eyes look so fucking heavy that Kaminari has to take a second look to make sure that the person wasn't beaten up. On top of that, he also looks exhausted, like he's given up on life. He looks dead. Also, his slouched form does not help justify his tired appearance.
When's the last time this person slept? Does he even sleep at all?
He kind of reminds him of Todoroki when they first met, tired and aloof. But the difference is, Todoroki actually sleeps. And doesn't have big-ass eyebags. Jesus Christ.
But what makes him even more worried about the customer in front of him is when he finally states his order.
"Can I have a large Iced Americano, no water and three extra shots? Actually, make it five. I have midterms coming up." The lack of emotion on his voice sets another alarm off of Kaminari's head.
"Holy shit sir, are you okay?" Kaminari asks him as he hesitantly types the customer's order.
"No." His answer is almost quick.
The blond gulps but decides not to pry, instead taking out a notepad and a pencil. "Name?"
"Shinsou."
Kaminari nods at him and Shinsou hands him the exact amount of cash, walking off and sitting on a chair near the counter. The blond quickly scribbles his name on the cup and writes a 'pls take care of yourself u look dead af' just under his name.
He faces the coffee machine and starts to make Shinsou's order with practiced hands, finishing it after a minute and picking a straw from the dispenser. "Large Iced Americano for Shinsou!" He calls out and the latter stands up, making his way towards him and mumbles a quick "Thanks." before taking his coffee and walks out the coffee shop.
Kaminari watches his figure walk away until it disappears with a frown on his face. He looks at the clock and bingo, his shift is over.
He stretches his arms up and grunts when he hears his bones crack. At the same time, Jirou makes his way towards the counter and wears her apron at the same time Kaminari removes his. He smiles at the her, "The counter's all yours, ma'am." Jirou laughs and fist bumps him.
The blond retrieves his belongings from the staff room and walks back to his school's dormitory.
He opens the door to his room and carelessly dumps his bag on his bed, taking out his homework and quickly changes into something more comfortable. He exits his room and goes downstairs and straight to the kitchen, where he spots Sero and sits down beside him.
Sero looks up from where he's earnestly scrolling at his social media. "What's up, man?"
Kaminari huffs and places his textbook on the table, flipping to where his homework is. "Gotta finish this before Yamada beats my ass."
The black haired boy nods at him and continues what he was doing earlier.
After approximately twenty minutes, Kaminari places his pen down and slams his textbook shut. "Fuck English."
"You can't fuck a subject, Kami." Sero cackles. The blond only gives him a dirty look.
"Hey Sero." The person being addressed only hums in response. "Do you know someone named Shinsou? Has a hair like Midoriya's but purple? Eyebags? Looks dead twenty-four-seven?"
The other's ears seem to perk up in acknowledgement. "Yeah, I know him. I share Biology with him and he's a regular during my night shift. Why? You got a crush on him?" Sero smirks.
Kaminari splutters, feeling his face heat up. "Dude, no! It's justーwhat do you mean 'why'? He looks like a zombie! And his order is like, a cup of what death would taste like." He says exasperatedly.
Sero chuckles, "Yeah, that's just how he is. According to Bakugou, he stays up even after Kiri's midnight shift and stays until four o'clock in the morning. He only leaves when he sees the sun rising."
Kaminari looks at his friend in horror. "What the fuck. Is he a vampire? Or worse, a zombie vampire?"
Sero shrugs. "Maybe."
Kaminari didn't see Shinsou for three days straight, and that makes him kind of scared. That just means he's active during Sero's night shifts until Bakugou's morning shift. Having that much caffeine and that lack of sleep can seriously kill. He inwardly hopes the purple haired boy is okay.
He vaguely remembers Sero teasing him about having a crush on the said boy, but he quickly shoves that thought away. He's just worried, okay? He knows that he barely knows him but it's his first time encountering someone so physically and spiritually done with life that he drowns himself in caffeine and that alone if terrifying. How Sero acts normally with it, he doesn't know.
He's fully aware that he shouldn't care because it's not his own business, but he can't help but be intrigued by Shinsou. Plus, the guy's actually good-looking. (He confirms this theory when he searches him up on Instagram and stalks him at two in the morning.)
The blond unties his apron and hangs it up the hook, picking up his bag from one of the stools beside the counter. He's about to turn around and leave when Kirishima comes running towards him at full speed that Kaminari has to take a step back because the latter almost trips on his own feet.
"Denki, my bro, my partner in crime, my man, my ride or dieー"
"Oh my God, just spit it out alreadyー"
"Can you please cover my shift tonight? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Kirishima gives him his biggest puppy eyes and juts his bottom lip out, resembling a kicked puppy.
"But why?" Kaminari raises a brow at him.
Kirishima smiles at him sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck, "Uh, Bakugou invited me for a movie night." He says with a nervous tone, and Kaminari is sure that it's not just a 'movie night.'
The blond gives his friend a loop-sided smile. "Fine. I'm doing this because I love you. Use protection, aight?" He cackles at the sight of his friend's mouth agape and face as red as his hair.
"WーWe're notー!"
"Sure, Jan."
He made sure to take a quick nap before coming to the coffee shop at twelve o'clock in the morning, because he knows he's gonna be exhausted. Man, Kirishima is really hardworking.
Kaminari puts on his apron and waves at Sero who mouths a 'good luck!' to him as he leaves the coffee shop.
Ten minites has passed and the coffee shop is empty as ever. Kaminari decides to check on his phone a bit, unlocking it and opening the 'Bakusquad' groupchat.
mina
icb u made denki cover ur shift for a date
eijirou
it's not a date!!! >///<
katsuki
it's a fucking movie night BITCH
mina
[sips tea] oh really. tell me more
denki
it's been fifteen minutes and no one still hasn't shown up
kiri how do u handle this
it's so eerie and quiet wtf
eijirou
patience my dude
someone's bound to go there soon
denki
who
hanta
did u rlly forget? it's shinsou
eijirou
the guy looks so dead it's scary
katsuki
shitty hair get off ur fucking phone
mina
it's about to get ~steamy~
Kaminari reads Sero's message over and over again before it dawns to him. Oh shit.
Just as he's about to start panicking, the glass doors opened. Kaminari panics even more when he sees that it's Shinsou. He quickly gathers himself and wears his usual wide grin. "Welcome to Plus Ultra Caffeine! What can I get you?"
Shinsou blinks at him, raising a brow. "I never saw you during this time before."
"Well, I have to cover my friend's shift. He has.. stuff to do." Kaminari shrugs. Shinsou nods and orders the same thing again, handing him a few cash and goes to sit on a stool this time.
Kaminari turns around and begins to make Shinsou's coffee. He contemplates adding a bit of water and decreasing the amount of espresso, looking over his shoulder only to see that the other is busy on his phone. Kaminari faces the coffee machine again and thinks fuck it and adds a bit of water and only throws in three shots of espresso. A bit of change and healthier option wouldn't hurt, right?
He tentatively makes his way towards Shinsou and hands him his coffee, who accepts it with a slight express of gratitude. Kaminari walks back to the counter and steals a quick glance at the latter, watching him sip his coffee.
He hears Shinsou hum. "You changed my order." Rather than sounding angry and displeased, he sounds surprised. Or at least that's what Kaminari assumes he sounds like.
Kaminari shoots him an apologetic look. "UhーI was just worriedーbecause your order is somewhat deadly in my opinion. Like dude, do you even sleep? Why do need that much caffeine? IーI just want to make sure you don't die, you know? Hah, uhーyeah." He rambles on. God, please create a black hole to swallow me up right now. It's less painful than this.
Shinsou does not answer right away and the blond panics again, "Shit, sorryーdid I creep you out? I promise I won't do it again pleaseー"
"Did you write that note on my cup?"
"ーdon't hate meーwhat?"
Shinsou chuckles a little, and Kaminari looks at him with alarmed eyes. "I said, did you write that note on my cup from three days ago?"
Kaminari gulps, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I did."
"You said I look dead as fuck, right?" Shinsou is now smirking at him, and did he just curse? That's so hot what the fuckーwait, what?
The blond can only nod. The atmosphere suddenly feels heavier and he feels sweaty and hot, did the air conditioner broke down?
"Thanks."
"What?" Kaminari replies dumbly.
"Thanks. For worrying, I mean. You don't have to, though. I don't even know your name." Shinsou is now pointedly looking at him, a brow quirked up like he's waiting for something.
"Kaminari Denki." He shakily replies.
Shinsou nods. "Shinsou Hitoshi." The blond hums.
Silence takes over them, none of them daring to speak for a whole ten minutes before Kaminari hears a stool scraping, and he looks up from his phone only to find Shinsou straightening up.
"Leaving already?" Kaminari asks, remembering that Sero told him that he leaves at four in the morning, but he's pretty sure it's only twelve-thirty.
"Yeah, midterms are tomorrow so I have to study." Shinsou tells him. Kaminari nods at him and they exchange quick goodbyes, leaving Kaminari to watch him walk off once again with his heart and mind heavy with curiosity.
The next time they meet, it's a week later and during Kaminari's shift.
The glass doors swing open and Shinsou comes in trudging towards the counter and looking even more tired than usual. As soon as he stops in front of Kaminari, the blond shoots him a grin. "Rough week?"
Shinsou groans quietly and nods. "Midterms put me into hell and back."
"That sucks, man. The usual?" Kaminari accepts his payment with a heavy heart as Shinsou nods and pays him, walking off and sitting on an empty table by the window.
Kaminari makes his coffee again, repeating his actions from a week ago. Adding a bit of water and only three shots of espresso. Hopefully Shinsou wouldn't throw the drink at him. But honestly, he's worried.
"Large Iced Americano for Shinsou!" He calls out, giving the said boy his order and watches him go back on his place. He only has two minutes before his shift ends, might as well pry into other people's business.
The blond removes his apron and takes a slice of Strawberry Shortcake out of the shelf, walking towards Shinsou who's focused on his phone.
Kaminari places the cake on the table and slides into the booth beside the taller, startling him.
"Kaminari?" Shinsou blinks at him. "The one and only." He grins at him again.
"Don't you have work?" Shinsou asks, turning his phone off and placing it on the table. Kaminari shrugs. "My shift's almost over."
Shinsou then notices the cake and becomes more confused. "I didn't order this..?" He points at the cake slice. "It's on the house, silly. You looked like you needed it, since midterms and all. Give yourself a break." Kaminari says, pushing the plate towards the latter.
Shinsou picks up the fork and hesitantly cuts a piece off, placing it in his mouth afterwards and chewing. "It's good."
"It is, isn't it? Satou makes the best cakes." Kaminari exclaims.
"I appreciate this, but why are you doing this?" Shinsou asks as he takes another piece and puts it in his mouth.
Kaminari shrugs. "Like I said, I worry about you. Dude, you look like you haven't slept at all in your entire life!"
The purple haired boy snorts. "That's because I'm insomniac."
"Oh."
"It's not a big deal, really. Don't sweat about it."
"But do you sleep? Like, at least once?"
Shinsou gives him a smirk. "When I blink, I get a millisecond of sleep or two."
Kaminari cackles. "Dude, didn't know you have humor in you. Oh waitーthat was harsh." Shinsou only laughs in a his baritone voice.
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
"But man, don't you think your order is too much? I really couldn't imagine having that much caffeine everyday." Kaminari says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin in an attempt to emphasize his statement.
"I'm used to it." Shinsou shrugs.
They talk about a lot more things after that. Kaminari quickly learns that Shinsou is actually a talkative person after you've interacted with him enough, and that aloof personality and vibe he has is just his usual demeanor. He also learns that he's the adoptive son of Aizawa Shouta, his homeroom teacher from UA. What a small world.
He also learns about his likes and dislikes, like how he loathes peanut butter and loves cats. Who would have thought.
In the midst of their conversation, Kaminari soon learns that he's taken interest on Shinsou. He doesn't know how or when, but whenever Shinsou gives him that small smirk of his his heart would skip just a little. He's so attractive that it hurts Kaminari physically and emotionally.
"I have to get going, Aizawa needs help." Shinsou stands up, and Kaminari feels dread filling his stomach. "Already?"
"Yeah, apparently it's urgent." Shinsou smiles at him softly. "Oh, and before I forget, do you have paper and pen?"
Kaminari, although confused, only nods and hands him his notepad and pen from his bag. He watches as Shinsou writes something on it and gives it back to him. "Bye, Kaminari." and with that, he leaves the coffee shop.
Kaminari waves at him and looks down immediately, feeling his heart fill up with giddiness as he reads the note over and over again.
'i like you, kaminari. go out with me for a coffee some time?
xxx-xxxx-xxx'
denki
fellas is it gay when a guy says they like you and gives you their number
hanta
oh my god is it who i think it is
mina
SPILL
denki
it may or may not be shinsou......
eijirou
DAMMIT
katsuki
HA PAY UP BITCHES