Work Text:
I still remember the first time I met you. How could I possibly forget that day? I was hanging out with Denis as I always do, I had a sleepover with him, and he brought up a cafe called Kitten café, not too far from his place that he loves and always goes to. He asked me to go with him, and of course I nodded, I would never turn him down. So, we hopped into his car and headed to the café. And the moment we walked in we were greeted.
"Hello, young men, how many people will be joining you?"
"Just me and him."
"Very well, I will be with you in a minute."
Denis nodded, then we headed a booth seat, I sat across from him so, I could just look at him across the room and don't have to turn my head to look at him. I looked around.
"You've never been here have you?" Denis asked.
I shook my head. "No, never."
"You're missing out," he chuckled. "Well, at least you're here now, there's a LOT to look at."
I rolled my eyes, "coffee, sugary foods, AND bakery goods? Plus, there's other cafés and they're pretty much the same no matter where you go. I think I'm pretty good not knowing this place exists."
"Give it a chance, Elijah, for me?"
I looked down shook my head with a smile and gave out a little scoff then looked back at him, "for you."
Soon enough the waitress comes, "What can I order you, young men?"
"I'll take the black coffee with some honey in it."
They wrote it down, "very well, and for you?"
"I'll just take a tea."
They nodded, "any food?"
"I'll take one of your breakfast burritos."
They wrote that down as well. "You?"
"I'll get just a croissant."
"I'll be back with your order." They walked away from our table.
There was a confused expression on Denis's face, because I gave him a "really?" look.
"What's with that look on your face?" Denis asked.
"Really?"
"What?" Denis asked.
"You're just gonna order the fucking black coffee with honey?"
"Yea, so?"
"That's so basic!"
"Like you have any room to talk, you asked for a tea!"
"Yea, because I don't like sugar shit, don't judge me!"
"And who the hell eats just a croissant for breakfast?! Are you on a diet?!"
"Are you calling me fat?!"
"And, if you don't want me to judge you, then you shouldn't be judging me!"
"You do think I'm fat, don't you?!"
"I never said that!"
"Well, you didn't answer my question!"
Denis sighed and leaned back. "Besides, I don't just come here for the food."
"Huh?" I was confused, he just changed the mood so fast. He tends to do that if the tension is too high to bear.
"Then, what else do you come here for?"
"My friend." He said.
"Your- your friend?"
"That's what I said."
"Are they better than me?" I said, in a sassy sarcastic tone while crossing my arms. He looked at me as if I asked a dumbass question. I shrugged, "what?"
He rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and shook his head, "nothing."
I looked around the room once more. And as I slowly did, I started to daydream.
"How's your job going?"
"Huh?" Denis took me out of my daydreaming.
"I know you don't really talk about it, but how's it going?"
"There's a reason why I don't."
"What's your job again?"
It took me a minute to respond, I took a deep breath. It was a tough conversation that I usually don't like to talk about, "I work with graphic designing for the company. And sometimes I answer emails, or if my boss tells me to work on something else I usually have to do it."
"How's it going?"
I didn't answer. I acted like he didn't ask me. I didn't want this job though, I wanted to be SO MUCH MORE. I want to be able to enjoy the job but also get good pay.
He noticed I didn't want to answer, which is why he pulled my hand away from my chest because I had my arms crossed and he put his hand on mine, "you know you can talk to me about it, I'm here for you. You know that, right?"
I nodded, I took a deep breath, "it's just been frustrating lately. I seem to always end up late."
"Do you enjoy the job?"
"No, but I'm doing it for Ethan. It’s his dream job."
“That’s right, I remember Ethan telling me about it.”
Then, the waitress came back with our drinks, "here's your black coffee with honey." they handed Denis his coffee.
"Thank you," he smiled and bowed his head. They smiled and bowed their head as well.
"Here's your tea," they handed me my tea.
"Thank you," I said, while I looked down at it.
"Your food will be here soon." They walked away.
I took a drink of my tea and daydreamed, Denis took a drink of his coffee as well.
"You don't have to do everything for Ethan, you know?"
"Huh?" He took me out of my daydreaming again.
"You should enjoy your job whether or not Ethan wants you to have the job or not. And I can bet he just wants you to enjoy your job. Try not to worry too much about whether or not Ethan will get pissed if you got fired or quit, okay?"
I nodded. "I mean, it's not like he'll disown me as a brother, right?"
He chuckled, "of course not," he grabbed my hand again, "he'll always be your brother, Elijah."
I smiled and nodded, he did the same. He let go of my hand, “it’s just, this job has always been a dream to Ethan ever since he was young and the fact that Jandel didn’t choose him when he specifically applied for it and me telling Ethan he’ll get in when I know the job is a pain in the ass to get in and he was afraid he wouldn’t get in so I was encouraging him and he really seemed like he would get in. He had everything they could ever needed! So, why the hell did they pick me? I don’t understand!”
“You have potential too, Elijah.”
“Not as much as Ethan does. He was really looking forward to this job and just for Jandel to slip it away is frustrating. When he came home from his interview I was expecting good news. I even called our friends to celebrate.”
Denis had his hand on his chin rubbing it, “I remember you inviting me.”
“But the moment I saw the look on his face I knew he didn’t get the job, and I felt-“ I started tearing up.
“Aw, Elijah,” he moved towards me and hugged me. I learned towards him.
“They’re bastards, all of them!”
“Now, now, we should be nice to our coworkers, eh?”
I looked at him. “But Jande-“
“Even him.”
“Mmm… I’m debating.”
“Elijah?!”
“Fine,” I sighed, then I said in a mumble, “even Jandel.”
“Hmph,” Denis stayed by me but let go of me.
"Since, we are talking about jobs, how is yours going?"
"Eh, nothing to complain."
"You still work for that band?"
He nodded, "one and only Flixkery Lights!" He said, "they aren't anything without their saxophone player, we're actually gonna play tomorrow night at 9 at this pizza place. It's gonna be a fun time!"
"Wish I could come and watch, but-" I could feel myself about to cry.
He noticed, "hey, hey, it's okay, I get it you have your job. Don't sweat it. Sometime, I could play in front of you with my whole band."
"My dumbass job."
Denis held me. "I said don't worry about it. We can make plans around it, okay?"
I nodded. Then he smiled to cheer me up, I smiled a little bit.
Denis looked away from me, "what the hell?"
"What's wrong?" Then, I could see that our waitress was coming back with our food until someone stopped them, and started talking to them. The waitress nodded and handed the strange man our food. The strange man, then started to walk towards us with a smile.
"heyyyy there's my buddy," he said towards Denis, "food is served," he said as if he was a butler or some sort.
Denis got up, "hey, Kaden!" He hugged Kaden.
"How did I know you would show up?"
"Maybe because I come here all the time."
He giggled, then looked at me, the smiled grew wider. He let go of Denis and ran towards me, I moved away from him. Denis headed back to his seat.
He turned his head to Denis with a slight turn, while pointing at me, "Denis, who's this?"
"Oh, that's Elijah, I wanted you to meet him so I brought him here." He said while he got started on his breakfast burrito.
"Oh..., okay!" He leaned closer to my face. I looked nervously at him. "You're shy, aren't ya?"
I shook my head, "I am not! You're just in my face!"
He backed up as if he was offended, as for me, I was still angry. "Wow, and feisty!"
"He's just an angry hamster." Denis said. Still munching on his breakfast burrito.
"Ugh, I AM NOT!"
Both Kaden and Denis laughed at me. I was getting pissed. I looked at Denis, "enjoying yourself?" He nodded while laughing.
"Sorry," Kaden wipes his tears from laughter, "I'll let you eat," he said to me and grabbed a stool between the table and he made it so he could see both of us.
I started to eat my croissant and drink my tea.
Kaden turned to Denis, "so how have you been?" He seemed very intrigued to hear Denis's reply.
"Oh, you know," he says, while taking a bite of his burrito, "just the usual, besides having Elijah at my place last night."
Kaden look towards me, then back at Denis and nods, "your best friend, right?" Denis nods. "He's the friend that you say is busy a lot at work?" Denis nods again.
"I can hear you, you know?" I say in a sassy angry tone. I still had food in my mouth.
"We didn't forget." Denis said, Kaden nodded in agreement.
Kaden looked around, then got up, "I'm gonna use the little boy's restroom. I'll be right back." He started to head to the bathroom.
I waited until he was gone, "what's his fucking problem?!"
"Elijah, that's just how Kaden is, you have to understand that."
"Don't you take me seriously?! Since you like to make jokes about me to him."
"You know I do."
"Yea..right." I crossed my arms.
He frowned.
"Let me guess you only brought me here to meet, Kaden?"
He nodded.
I scoffed, "of course you would only want me to come because of that."
"Well, not only that but it's about fucking time you ate at a café because I know if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have even fucking came here. Now am I right or am I wrong?"
I scoffed, "really?"
"Am I right or am I wrong, Elijah?" He leaned closer to the table. "You got mad when I didn't answer your question, so you damn might as well answer mine."
I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "alright fine," I put my hands in the air, "you're right, happy?" I crossed my arms again.
"That's what I thought you said."
Denis finished his burrito and I finished my croissant. And about that time Kaden came back and sat down on his stool. "Alright, what did I miss?"
"Nothing." Me and Denis said at the same time.
Kaden smelled the air as if he was a dog, "I sense tension in the air. Did you guys get into a fight?"
"I said it was nothing!" We both said.
"Okay! Jeez..."
Denis got up, "anyways, I think it's about time we left, we have other places to go, right Elijah?" I nodded, I got up too. "Could you go get me a check?"
"Huh," Kaden, just realizing he needed a check to pay, "oh, yes! Let me go get you one!" He ran and grabbed one for him you could hear Denis yell, "and don't forget the receipt!"
"Thanks." Denis said, Kaden nodded.
"I could pay," I said.
Denis shook his head, "no, I would rather you save your money for whatever you want to spend. I don't want to take away from you." He signed his signature and paid. He sighed, "we better head out."
I nodded.
"Well, it was nice seeing you, Denis," he hugged Denis and he hugged him back, "even if you do come here every day." He let him go, and walked over to me, I looked at him, he leaned close to me. "It was nice meeting you too, uhh, what was your name again?"
I sighed, "Elijah."
"Oh. Right."
"Are you dumb as fuck?! Denis told you my name and you already forgotten!"
"Still a feisty hamster?" Kaden said to me.
"He has bad memory." Denis said to me.
"Don't stand up for him!"
"He's my friend, I kinda have to."
I growled like a fucking dog.
He smirked. "I hope to meet you again!"
"I hope to never see you again!" I said.
He chuckled, grabbed me and hugged me, I immediately pulled him away, "what the hell?!"
"What?"
"Don't hug me! I barely know you!"
"Any friend of Denis is a friend of mine!"
I sighed, with my arms crossed, "still doesn't give you a right to hug me."
He got away from me, walked towards Denis whispered him something, Denis grinned and nodded, and Kaden left with a smile on his face while skipping.
How I love that skip and his smile.
I rolled my eyes then looked at my empty tea cup.
Denis noticed, "what now?"
"we should've just had our food and drinks to-go."
He rolled his eyes, "let's just fucking leave."
—
"Have everything?" Denis asked me.
I nodded, I rubbed my eyes, "tired as fuck."
"Haha, yea, same, and I have to drive!"
"Please don't get us in an accident!"
"Don't worry, I won't let your handsome ass die, Elijah. After all everyone seems to have a like to you." His phone started to ring.
I laughed at his ringtone.
"What? My ringtones funny to you, is it?"
"Yea, why is it your YouTube intro?"
"I would like to know what your ringtone is?"
my smile went away.
"That's what I thought." He answered his phone, "hello? ...uhuh...I'm at the mall with Elijah. Uhuh...well, that's unfortunate, I guess.. I can pick you up. Uhuh... alright, I'll be there, bye."
"Who-"
"We got to run an errand."
"Okay, but, who-"
"Get in the damn car!"
"Okay! Okay! Damn."
Denis got to the Kitten café and Kaden was pacing back and forth. His eyes lit up when he saw Denis's car.
"Really, an 'errand'?"
"Hey, I knew if I brought up Kaden's name you would've asked to walk home. Plus, he needs this!"
I rolled my eyes while crossing my arms, "right."
Kaden walked towards Denis's window he rolled down his window, "need a ride?"
"Oo, yes please!"
Denis unlocked the back doors, Kaden went in, he sat in the middle seat. "I really appreciate this a lot Denis," he buckled up, "how can I repay you?"
"No need to, free of charge."
"You're the bestest friend I could've ever asked for!"
"Why don't you have a car, forgot to pay the bill?" I smirked.
He shook his head, "no, it wouldn't start, weird, right?"
"So weird.." I said with sarcasm.
Denis bumped me, like he wanted me to apologize or I offended him.
"Owwh!" Denis made a face like I deserved it or something.
"Where do you want to go, Kaden, for the night, I assume your apartment?"
"Not really. It's kinda busy there at the moment."
"That's fine you can just come to my place."
"Wait- really?"
"Mhm."
"Really?! And Eli is okay with this?!"
"It's Elijah!" I said.
"E- Ehila?"
"Nevermind.."
"Don't care what he thinks, Kaden, he doesn't know you yet."
"Well, I don't want to-"
"I said it's fine, okay?" Denis said.
"Alright, he doesn't know me."
"Exactly," Denis said.
"We're here."
"I can't believe I'm at your house Denis!"
"You should come here more often, Kaden."
"I really can't, I never get a break at my job, but I love working there!"
"Let's go inside it's cold." I said.
Denis nodded. We all headed inside.
"Wow, such a huge house, we should watch a movie together like a big family on Christmas!"
I rolled my eyes. Denis noticed and shrugged me.
"I'll make the popcorn." Denis said.
"Wait, we'll ACTUALLY watch a movie together?"
"Yea, I'm down to watch a movie."
"What about Elo?"
I sighed, "I have nothing better to do, so, I. Guess."
He got excited like I made his entire day better. "Yay! This is gonna he great!" He ran to me, grabbed me and had me sit right next to him on the couch. Denis was in the kitchen working on the popcorn. "What movie do you want to watch?" Kaden asked.
"I'll watch practically anything, really." I said.
He nodded. Denis came back with the popcorn and sat on the sofa with us, all the lights were off.
"Oo, before we watch a movie we should get in PJs so it'll be more fun, I'll go put mine on. Where's the bathroom?"
"Upstairs on the right." Denis said.
"Right, I'll be right back, put both of yours on too."
I grabbed my PJs from by the TV because I usually sleep on Denis's sofa when I stay the night because it's comfortable for me. And I'm used to changing in front of him and he's used to it too.
"I don't appreciate you being rude to Kaden."
"He pisses me off."
"Why?"
"I know his type, he's probably just using you or some shit."
"He's one of my closest friends and the way you're acting around him is immature."
I turned towards him. "Is that really how you feel?"
"Yes, I would appreciate it if you were a little nicer."
"Well, maybe he shouldn't get on my damn nerves!"
"Please, Elijah, for me? Give him a chance, for me, your best friend?"
I looked at him and sighed and gripped his hand like I was making a vow or an oath, "for you." He smiled.
I continued to put my PJ's on. Denis got up, "I'm gonna go put mine on upstairs." He said. I nodded and he headed upstairs. Once I was done I sat on the couch waiting until they were done changing.
A few minutes went by, and Denis came downstairs. And then Kaden came downstairs, "wow I love your guys's PJ's! You guys love mine!" He did a little twirl. He was wearing red panda ones, where the t-shirt was a red panda fade and the pants were the pattern of a red panda.
"They look really nice, Kaden."
"Aww, thanks, Denis!" He giggled, "love your cat PJ's!"
"Thank you, Kaden!" He said with a giggle.
Kaden smiled and giggled along with him, then he looked at mine and pointed, "and I love your dinosaur PJ's!"
"Oh, thank you, Kaden." I said.
"Even if they are extinct!" Said Kaden.
It got completely silent, then out of nowhere Kaden started bursting out laughing. "Let's watch the movie!"
—
I woke up on the couch and I saw the tv on, then I looked over at Denis asleep on the floor with a mattress where Kaden was sleeping also was sleeping, but he was gone, I wouldn't have cared, if I didn't hear crying. I looked around to hear where it was coming from, I checked the kitchen, he wasn't there, then I went upstairs and I could hear it louder. I went by the bathroom and I knew Kaden was in there, but the light was off and the door was shut. He was sobbing lightly.
"I'm sorry, I- please forgive me- I-"
It sounded like he was on the phone with someone, or he was talking to himself.
"Please- I- I'm trying my best- I'm not giving you an excuse I am- don't do it please- I can fix this, just give me a chance!"
I open the bathroom door, to find him on the ground, he gasp and looked at me, he was on his knees. I could hear someone on his phone trying to talk to him. His eyes (though I could barely see them) showed total panic and terror. His lips shivered of fear and his face was drenched in tears from crying. "What-" I tried to get the words out but I just couldn't, instead I kneeled down and grabbed his phone to hang up but I saw the name he was talking to, Jandel. Kaden put out one of his hands like I’m making a bad idea and might regret it later. I decided to hang up, he gasped he wasn’t expecting me to hang up. It took him a little bit to develop what I did, then it hit him that I was helping him, and that’s when he hugged me. I was about to move him but I decided not to, because he looked like he wanted comfort, I patted his back.
This moment didn't need words, just actions.
I pulled him away and made him look at me with my hands on his shoulders. "Is there any way I could cheer you up from the situation? Or maybe, you could talk to me about-"
"NO- I mean- no you must not know about what happens at my-" he started to shake and shiver again.
"Sorry, sorry didn't mean to offend you."
"It's not you. It's just-"
"A sensitive subject?"
"Yes."
He tried to calm down and take deep breaths from what Jandel said to him on call. He wiped his face. “Can we go downstairs?”
“You sure? If you’re not ready to go downstairs and need time to heal we can stay up here until you’re ready.”
He sighed, and took a few minutes to respond. “I’m fine, really, I want to just go downstairs.” He got up and grabbed my hand and we headed downstairs. When we did we sat on the sofa.
Kaden wasn’t shaking or trembling as bad. He put his favorite show on the tv and he started to smile. He was trying to distract his mind from Jandel yelling at him.
"I love this show." He whispered to not try to wake up Denis. He can be cranky if something or someone wakes him up, it's bad news for you if you do. Kaden started to grin a little. I grinned a little too. Then, he chuckled, "I remember when me and my older brother would watch it all the time, heh, I miss him sometimes."
"You still talk to him?" I whispered. I rather not get yelled at by Denis like I last sleepover because I saw a spider on the sofa and I screamed very loud and Denis told me to go to sleep, but I told him I saw a spider, so he looked around the sofa and he couldn’t find it so he had me sleep on the mattress with him, but it didn’t bother me.
"Like we never grew away from each other." Kaden said. He started to doze off, but forced himself to stay awake.
"You know, if you go to sleep, I'll protect you." I said.
"It's not that, I- I'm just afraid that-" he looked at his phone.
I grabbed it and powered it off. "Now, you don't have to worry about it."
He smiled a little, "thank you."
After a few hours he fell asleep. And so did I.
—
I woke up to a pillow being thrown at me, "hey what's the-"
"Good morning, sleeping beauty!" Denis said with a smirk.
"Jackass!" I said, and threw the pillow back at him. Denis giggled, Kaden gave Denis his food and then give me my food.
"Thank you, Kaden. It looks delicious."
He nodded.
"Yea, it does?" Denis said. He seemed kinda confused of why I was being nice to Kaden.
I was eating until Denis got on the sofa and looked at me. "May I help you?" I said.
"Can't I just sit with you?"
"Well, I'm not gonna stop you."
Kaden came and sat on the sofa right by me. Now Denis was more concerned but he shrugged it off. Probably because of my "oath" to be nice to Kaden. Now it REALLY felt like an oath like, if I broke it Denis would no longer be my friend.
After we got done eating we watched a few shows together and when Denis went upstairs to change, Kaden felt like it was perfect time to talk to me about last night.
"Thank you about last night, really."
"Hey, it was no problem, always here to help."
"It-" Kaden started to tear up. And I was afraid that if Denis came down he would think I'm the reason Kaden is crying, but I was more afraid of Kaden having to explain what was making him cry.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," I rubbed his shoulders to make him feel better, and continually to hug him and comfort him, "shh." I said. He started to calm down. He wiped his tears.
"Thank you."
I nodded. I let him go. Denis came down. "You ready to go home, Elijah?"
"I guess, just let me change."
"Uhuh."
I changed upstairs because I wasn't ready to change in front of Kaden. When I came downstairs I put my shoes on.
"Do you have to leave?" Kaden asked.
"Yes, my brother, tends to get cranky when I don't."
"I suppose that makes sense, wish you could stay." Kaden said.
“I know,” I said.
I started to head out, and the last thing I heard was,
"Thank you,
Elijah."