Work Text:
Kalvin adjusted the frilly headband on his head, his expression blank in the mirror as Albus fussed behind him happily.
“You look adorable, Kalvin,” Albus announced proudly as he looked at Yuta for opinions. More like seeking for agreement.
Yuta, with his arms crossed, nodded approvingly while standing next to Albus. “Perfect. A tall, stoic maid. The customers will love it.”
Kalvin blinked while twirling once while looking at himself. “The skirt is… short.”
“That’s the point,” Albus grinned.
Kalvin paused. Then simply accepted it. “I see.” He walked out into the café, with stockings hugging his long legs, frills swaying slightly as he greeted customers with his usual calm tone.
“Welcome home, Masters and Mistresses.”
Yuta heard a group of customers shriek at the sight of him and whispered, “He’s unintentionally deadly beautiful.” Kalvin, despite moving like a balanced machine, had a soft voice that sounded gentle but emotionally unreadable. Even when asked to do the café’s most infamous request...
“Can we get the...m-moe moe kyun?” the customer asked timidly.
Kalvin nodded. “Understood.”
He lifted his hands, composed as always, making a heart shape and moved it around.
“Moe… moe… kyun.”
So professional and... stone-cold.
Albus giggled. “I swear, he doesn’t feel embarrassment at all.” At least… they thought so.
...
The doorbell of the cafe chimed. As Kalvin turned automatically and froze for a moment, Ah.
Malim stood in the doorway, smiling while talking beside Granny Minterva, holding a small bag in his hands, his eyes widening at the sight of Kalvin in a maid outfit.
“Oh my, Kalvin…?”
His cheeks colored immediately, soft pink blooming across his skin as Granny Minterva nudged him playfully. “Oh my, look at you turning red already, my dear sweet child.”
Kalvin’s posture straightened, a subtle shift, but Albus and Yuta noticed his unusual expression...
“…Welcome home,” Kalvin said, and yet his voice was quieter than usual.
Albus looked at Yuta as they gave each other wide eyes and smirked. Got him.
Kalvin approached the table with steady steps, every movement precise. “May I take your order?”
Granny waved her hand gently with a soft smile. “Oh, nothing for Granny today! Granny just wanted to see you and what this café is about. But Malim can order.”
Malim swallowed hard nervously as he smiled. “Uh. O–omelette rice?”
Kalvin hummed and nodded as he wrote it down. “Would you like… the special service?”
Malim looked at Kalvin with surprise; he himself almost gagged from his own spit from that question. “S–special?”
Granny clapped her hands, delighted. “YES. He does.”
Malim flinched. “G—Granny—!”
Kalvin nodded again before going back to the kitchen... A few moments later he comes back with food and drinks. Kalvin set the omelette in front of Malim. His voice trembled the tiniest bit, not enough for anyone but Malim to notice.
“…Then excuse me.”
He picked up the ketchup bottle.
And for the first time, his calm mask showed a gentle crack. His ears flushed slightly as he drew a heart on the omelette.
“Moe…”
He glanced away, embarrassed.
“…moe…”
He looked at Malim.
“…kyun.”
Malim covered his mouth as his entire face turned red.
Granny smiled and praised both of them on how adorable they are. “ADORABLE! Both of you!”
Kalvin retreated quickly with a quick nod, telling them to enjoy their food, as his steps were just a bit too fast walking back to the kitchen.
Albus smirked from behind the counter. “Ohhh, he’s flustered. He’s finally flustered. Baby boy is flustered~”
Yuta leaned in with an interested smile. “Over that Malim boy, huh? Interesting choice, Kalvin.”
Kalvin said nothing...
Which said everything.
Malim ate quietly, with a soft smile on his lips. Granny Minterva watched him fondly.
“You really like him, don’t you?” She hummed softly.
Malim’s smile grew shy. Sweet. Harmless. “Well... He is my neighbor and someone who helped me when I first got here, Granny.”
Granny chuckled. “You and Kalvin look like two little kittens. I’m happy you get along.”
Malim lowered his gaze. “Mm…”
And yet, he hid the truth perfectly from her. A lil guilt, but not too much.
Because under the sweetness of his voice, under the shy smiles and gentle greetings, a darker warmth curled in his chest, something deep and possessive.
Kalvin was the first person who helped him. The first one who didn’t treat him like a stranger. The first who looked at him with gentle eyes.
Granny Minterva would never notice the shift. She only saw the polite, quiet boy she met.
And Malim made sure of that. But inside, when Kalvin walked past another table and nodded carefully at other customers, Malim’s fingers tightened around his fork, as if at any moment it would pierce straight into someone.
Kalvin shouldn’t be this sweet for other people.
Kalvin shouldn’t be saying cute things to others.
Kalvin shouldn’t blush for anyone but him.
His eyes tracked every movement Kalvin made.
Every step.
Every bow.
Every soft greeting that wasn’t directed at him.
Malim hid it all beneath gentle eyes.
Behind that calm, angelic smile.
No one, not even Granny Minterva, felt the quiet storm brewing behind him.
Albus leaned against the counter with a smirk. “Hey Kalvin, you’re acting weird.”
Kalvin sighed as he looked at Albus. “Define weird.”
“You got flustered.”
“I did not.”
“You did,” Yuta said flatly. “Your ears turned red. Albus saw it. I saw it. Probably three customers saw it.”
Kalvin looked away, feeling somehow shy. “…Malim and Granny seem well. That is all.”
Albus clasped Kalvin’s shoulders dramatically. “Oh my god, he likes the boy.”
Kalvin shook his head. “I care about him. That is different. He is my neighbor.”
“Mhmm,” Yuta hummed with a knowing smile. “We’ll see.”
A few moments later, Malim finally finished his meal. He folded his napkin neatly and smiled innocently at Kalvin as the taller boy returned with the check.
“Thank you… Kalvin,” Malim said softly.
Kalvin’s expression gentled just a little, barely noticeable to anyone but Malim. “It is always a pleasure, Malim. Thank you for visiting me.”
Malim lowered his gaze, feeling shy.
Sweet.
Loving.
But when Kalvin walked away to help another customer, Malim’s eyes hardened ever so slightly.
No one but him noticed.
Kalvin belongs to me.
He just doesn’t know it yet.
Then, suddenly, Granny Minterva patted his shoulder. “Come along, dear.”
“Yes, Granny,” Malim replied sweetly.
He followed her out.
But before he stepped through the door, he turned back.
And watched Kalvin for one last time.
His smile was soft.
Yet, his gaze was not.