Who is he? Why would he come here? He obviously has a sense of taste, and a sense of style…or at least he likes to think he has one, so what's he doing in this run down coffee shop?

Your name is Sollux Captor, and you hate your job. No that's no the right word. You LOATHE your job. There, that's more appropriate. But you need it to live right now. You used to be a free lance coder for some questionable people until your "employers" got caught and you promptly got your computer taken away for investigation. It wasn't as if you didn't have any money saved up for emergencies in such a high risk job though right? Right? No. You pretty much wasted every paycheck on rent, ramen, and new software or hardware. So your 5,000$ computer is with the government and you're stuck here. At a coffee shop.

You're not even sure if the place has a name. It's just got the old lettering of the shop before it. Maybe the new owners were too lazy or too poor to put up new lettering? But surely they could afford it now. But for some reason people just called it "The Coffee Shop" and everyone seemed to move on without thinking twice about it. It'd been here as long as you'd had your apartment, or roughly 5 years. It was kind of popular for being so shitty and you weren't really sure why people even visited. The chairs were all pretty much broken and the ones that weren't were on the verge of breaking. Plus everything was overpriced and there was a Starbucks right down the road. But none the less the place had managed to stay in business for quite a while.

Maybe it's the atmosphere. There were beanbags in one corner, A few booths on one edge, and a few scattered chairs throughout. Along with the main counter of course. That added with the fact that it was in the nook between two buildings, barely noticeable, made it pretty much the perfect atmosphere to get away from the city life you guessed. But no matter how quaint and cute the place was you still hated it. You hated working there, you hated being there, and you hated being away from your computer. You were like a bitter ex boyfriend at this point. And it didn't help that literally every time you serve someone they question what you say at least twice because of your god damn lisp. But hey, money is money.

You usually go through the day without really noticing anyone. It's usually the same people anyway. Not to say you're not friendly towards the people who come it's just that you aren't really here to make friends. That is, until he showed up. You're not really sure why someone that looked as good as him would come into a place like this, but he did and he was talking to you right now. And you should probably pay more attention to what he's saying. Snapping your attention back to him you look at his lips as they move. They're thin, but they accent his strong jaw line nicely. Your eyes travel upward and you're finding yourself looking at a bridged nose and thick glasses slightly fogging up a pair of purple (?) eyes. He must have contacts in you assume.

"Did you catch that?" He questions looking at you his eyebrows raised.

Fuck no you didn't. You were too busy looking at him like he was fucking Justin Timberlake and you were a 12 year old girl who just hit puberty. You mentally slap yourself. He's giving you his order not his number and you need to get your shit together.

"Uh no thorry could you repeat that?" you express slightly happy that you're the one asking him to repeat things. Instead of it being the other way around.

He looks at you slightly annoyed and rolls his eyes like the pretentious douche he looks like and repeats his order practically dripping with his overly bloated ego, "I'll have a vanilla bean frap, heavy on the whip, soy milk, extra ice, in a…large."

You ring him up staring at the buttons trying to look bored hoping he'll assume that you were spacing out and you weren't looking at him talk, "Right that'll be thixth (six) dollarth and 42 thents (cents)."

He hands over the cash his fingers brushing yours, or the part that isn't covered with rings you should say. The dude has on at least two to each finger except his left hand ring finger. Which means he's single…or at least not engaged? You're not sure why you're even thinking about it. You're not even gay. You've got a girlfriend…well she's online but it's not like that makes much of a difference. You've been with her almost three months now and while it's not exactly serious you think she's really cool. You haven't been in contact with her since you got your computer taken away though. So you're not really sure how things stand between you two. Turning your attention back to the stranger in front of you, you put the money in the register and grab a large cup.

"What'll be the name?" You question, hoping he'd give you his first and last name that way you could at least put a name to a face. Not like you care though.

"Just put Eridan" he says staring at the cup in your hands, "E-R-I-Dan," he adds obviously trying to make sure you don't spell it wrong. Not like it matters though.

"Right well E-R-I-Dan your coffee thould be done in a few. Have a nithe day," you add. You are in customer service after all.

Rolling his eyes he goes and sits down. No one is coming up so you take a few minutes to look around the shop while sneaking in glances at the new dude. Something about him intrigues you and you're not sure what it is. It's not like he's a super model, in fact his clothing choices are somewhat questionable. He's got on black skinny jeans and a black button up with the sleeves rolled up. A purple pinstripe vest over it and a scarf to match. It's not that he didn't look good, just out of place. Either he's going somewhere really important after this or he's really really gay. Or… metrosexual you guess. Either way your eyes travel to his hair that he's got defying gravity itself and accented with a bleached section in the front. It goes well with the auburn color of his hair you suppose. His complexion is light and sprinkled with freckles you notice and his eyes…his eyes are staring at you. You look down and start to fiddle with your piece of shit phone feeling the blood rush to your face.

Fuck he caught you staring . You didn't really register his facial expression considering you were observing everything else on him but his fucking face. You toy more with your phone going back and forth through the 20 something contacts you have in there. None of which happen to be Aradia considering she doesn't have a phone. Says she leaves all her electronics at home as it takes away from the natural beauty of things. Kanaya mixes coffee and grinds ice behind you. She sets a coffee near you and you silently pray that it's not Eridans, because that means that he has to come up and grab it. That means he has the chance to say something to you and ask you why the fuck you were staring at him. You were acting fucking weird.

Compiling yourself, you look at the cup and notice it says 'Terezi' not Eridan thank god.

"Terezi," you call out looking into the crowd. A small girl with red hair comes up. She's sporting what looks like red tinted glasses, a walking cane, and a service dog. Coming up she grabs her coffee and smiles wide at you.

"Thank you," she says sporting an almost scary grin.

"No problem. Have a nithe (nice) day," you mumble at her. She leaves swishing her hips, and you can't help but follow her with your eyes till she's around the corner. What is wrong with you today?

You're usually so composed…or bored. You never really check out other people and you're usually on your phone when you're not helping others. But today since that new kid came in you can't help but be observant.

Frowning you turn your attention back to your phone and type out a message to your old high school friend Karkat.

hey lo2er

WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT IM KIND OF BUSY

doiing what

WHO GIVES A SHIT WHAT IM DOING THE POINT IS IM DOING SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE ENTERTAINING YOUR ANTISOCIAL ASS

lame. really lame KK

WHATS LAME IS YOUR SOCIAL LIFE

2ay2 the dude who hardly left the house tiill hii2 juniior year of hiigh2chool

SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU KNOW I JUST DONT LIKE PEOPLE

yeah and ii do? face iit we're both pathetiic when iit come2 two 2ociial iinteractiion

YEAH OKAY WHATEVER WHAT DO YOU WANT

nothiing iim at work. cant ii bug you when iim at work?

WELL YES BUT YOU DONT BUG ME AT WORK WHICH MEANS SOMETHINGS UP OR YOU WANT SOMETHING. SO WHICH IS IT

ii dunno ii mean there2 thii2 new douche at the 2hop but that2 about iit as far a2 "2omethiing2 up"

WHAT DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH OR SOMETHING I DON"T REALLY GIVE A SHIT EITHER WAY ITS JUST FUCKING WEIRD THAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS

what no ii don't liike dude2…ugh w/e ii'll talk two you after work

BYE ASSHOLE

Pushing the phone back in your pocket you sigh as another coffee is placed by you. This one is cold and the black lettering reads "E-R-I-Dan" You sigh inwardly before looking up to find him playing on his phone.

"Eridan," you push out. Though it sounds more of a question and he looks up at you with puzzled eyes.

"Yeah?" he questions looking at you.

You wiggle the coffee a bit not trusting your voice to do anymore talking around him. He nods understanding flooding through him and stands up. Walking over he grabs the coffee and walks out without as much as a 'thank you.' What a fucking dick.

That was the first time Eridan had come into your coffee shop. The second time had been a few months later. You were still being investigated and you still hated your shitty job. But sure enough he came anyway. You thought maybe he was in town and liked this place better than starbucks or didn't even know there was a starbucks which is why he came here. Then once he figured it out that the better cheaper coffee was at the other place he'd go by there when he was in town. But now a few months later he was back again. It had been another boring day only now it was winter and the cold would rush in every time someone stepped in. Giving you adequate time to put your phone away and take their order.

You were texting when he walked in and you felt the cold rush in. Your head whipped up to find Eridan wiping his very expensive looking boots on the cheap excuse for a welcome mat. He had on a button up coat that went to his middle thigh. Black accented with purple. His hair wasn't as neatly done this time from the snow getting it wet and it drying at odd angle, but he overall still looked really good. Not that you noticed or cared. In fact you didn't care. The only reason why you took interest in him was because he looked so out of place next to everyone else, or so you justified.

Walking up to you he looked slightly frazzled and very tired. Leaning on the counter he used his elbows to support himself before he drawled out his order.

"Mocha, double pump espresso, half the chocolate, extra hot, soy milk. Large." he breathed out closing his eyes. "And can I have one of those chocolate chip cookies warmed up?" he questioned opening his eyes and looking up at you expectantly.

"Uh..yeah…thure" you express almost getting lost in his eyes.

You've never seen that fucking shade of purple in someone's eyes, and you're only half convinced they're contacts this time. Sure you have heterochromia but yours were deep brown and light blue. Two fucking natural shades. Not purple. He breaks into a smile at you and leans up and looks more intently at your eyes. He glances down at your name tag and back up to your eyes. You find yourself either getting uncomfortable or getting closer, and you're not sure whether it's good or bad.

"Right well Sollux aren't you going to tell me how-ow much my order is?" He questions snapping you back to reality.

You're not sure what it is about him but every time he's around you find yourself observing him. You don't like him you just think he's…interesting, you guess. At the stutter you find him turning a darker red then what was already by the cold. He's got a speech thing too you guess. A stutter? You give up. You don't care.

"Right well that'll be…" you plug it into the register and look back up at him, "ten dollarth and fifty thenth (cents)"

He twists his face at the price, "fucking expenciv-ive as shit here," he mutters as he hands over the cash.

Rolling your eyes you grab a large and the sharpie next to the cups. "Name?" you question keeping your eyes down.

"Ampora" He drawls out.

Either he expects you to get it right or he doesn't care because he goes and sits down at a table and starts fiddling with his phone again. Looking down at the cup you twist your face at it. You write his name on it, and in a moment of carelessness you add your number too. Handing it off your coworker nudges your shoulder. You look over and she winks at you. You roll your eyes and start fiddling on your phone again. Kanaya always pegged you for gay and never missed a chance to tell you so, no matter how many girlfriends you got, she always assumed you were gay. You let her have her fun but at the end of the day you were wholeheartedly straight. Even though that relationship with Aradia hadn't lasted didn't mean there wasn't a girl out there for you.

And yet you were writing your phone number on some dudes coffee. Fuck. What the hell were you thinking you were wholeheartedly straight and you were pulling this shit? You really needed to get his act together or realize why you kept wanting to talk to the dude outside of your work place.

None the less Kanaya got his coffee done rather quickly considering there was no one before him and handed the hot beverage to you. With a second guess you crossed out your number haphazardly before calling his name.

"Eri-Ampora" you restated. you remembered the dudes name, but you didn't want him to think you were creepy. Why would he think that was creepy? He'd come in before and he had ordered coffee it wasn't unusual to remember someones name was it?

Either way he stood up and walked over exhausted. Grabbed his coffee and his cookie and muttered a small thank you before walking out the door. Your eyes followed him as he stopped and came to a halt, looking at his coffee cup. He looked over at you through the window and smirked slightly before you could avert your eyes. When you looked up again he was gone.

That was the second time Eridan Ampora had come into your coffee shop. The third time though uneventful happened the very next day. The only difference is that you didn't work Wednesdays or Thursdays so you didn't see him. But when you came in for your shift on Friday, Kanaya didn't give you two seconds before you were behind the counter that she wasn't jumping for joy and squealing at you.

"Woman calm down what happened? Did you finally realithe that the chick from your favorite hair thalon ith a lethibian or thomething?" You joke laughing at yourself. Her demeanor changed and she swatted you on the arm before giggling.

"No Sollux. If you MUST know I was excited for you." She exclaimed waggling her eyebrows at you.

"Me? Why? Did you finally figure out I was thraight and mentally dethide to quit trying to hook me up with your flaming friendth?" you sass back.

"NO Now would you shut up and listen to me?" She exclaimed. You were about to protest but she didn't let you and cut you off before you could continue. "That cute Eridan guy showed up yesterday and the day before that. I think he wants to see you again" She expressed trying to look as if she didn't care.

You roll your eyes at her and turn around taking your usual place at the counter. "I'm not gay. I don't like him. Tho it doesn't matter much to me.Maybe he jutht liketh coffee and ith now a regular?" You throw back a slightly blush coming to your cheeks as you avoid her eyes.

"Hmm...maybe you're right. But regulars don't usually ask for 'cute baristas named Sollux'" She adds and with that she starts on someones coffee and plugs back in her headphones.

Well now you're definitely blushing and you're definitely in denial. There is no way he likes you and there is no way you like him. You think he's interesting you reassure yourself, and that's all there is to it. Interesting is alright. You push back any other thoughts and focus on the task at hand. It's a busy day on Fridays and you don't have time to let your thoughts wander elsewhere.

After the breakfast rush you relax a bit and lean against the counter. Lunch would be dull and boring, and then night time would get busy again. Hearing the familiar ding of a customer entering you glance up and see none other than Eridan himself. Seeing you he breaks out into a small smile and walks up to the counter. He's shameless you decide.

"Hello." He drawls out.

"Hi what may I get you today?" You question swallowing your tongue.

He smirks at you as he obviously notices you're not as nonchalant as the face you're putting on would lead others to believe. "Yeah I'll have a Mocha, double shot, skim milk, extra hot, large… with your number not scratched out this time," He says smiling wider.

Hardening your jaw you don't question his name you just write it down in it's full and scribble your number underneath before handing it off to Kanaya who's practically breaking her mouth from smiling so wide.

You look up at him and swallow down your stupid grin, "I'm not gay." You say to him searching his eyes for acknowledgement.

"You don't hav-ve to be gay to giv-ive me your number" he says turning a shade of red at his own stutter and moving closer, "Plus who said I was gay to begin with?" He challenges licking his lips at you. Okay you may not be gay but anyone licking their lips at you is hot. It's like a proven fact. You can't lick your lips at someone and not be hot. He's just playing dirty at this point.

"I"ll call your name when your order ith ready." You say keeping your voice as monotone as possible. With a smirk he walks away and sits down at a spare table and gives you a wink before beginning to fiddle with his phone.

hey kk

WHAT

iif ii give my number two someone who happen2 two bee a dude becau2e ii fiind hiim iintere2tiing doe2 that make me gay?

WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT

doe2 iit make me gay

NO BUT WHY ARE YOU ASKING

You put your phone back in your pocket because you don't really want to answer him right now. A hot coffee is set next to you paired with Eridans name and your phone number. It's your last chance to cross it out. If you don't he'll have your number and you'll have actual conversations with the dude. Which is beyond your fucking comprehension right now. You look over at him to find that he's looking over at you. He's smiling and waiting for you to call his name. He's giving you the option to back out if you want to.

You really should cross it out. You should cross it out avoid eye contact and hope he never comes back.

"Eridan Ampora" You say looking at him. He smiled, happy you didn't cross it out you suppose.

He walks up and takes his coffee, his fingers brushing with yours, "I'll text you." He says before walking out. Okay now he's definitely shaking his hips and you pretty much groan inwardly. Embarrassed for him. Fuck this was really gay and really lame, but you feel yourself turning a deeper shade of red tracing your fingers over the parts of your hands where they had touched his. Okay you might be a little bit gay. But that doesn't stop you from just finding him interesting.

The end of your shift comes along with a heavy dose of disappointment. You had honestly expected him to text you right after he got out of the building like the school girl he pretty much acted like when you gave him your number. But instead you check your messages once more to remind you that in fact you had no unread messages. And when a message comes through it will in fact remind you with a simple vibration and that if you keep checking it, it's going to come to life and smack you in the face for acting so stupid to begin with. You roll your eyes at your inward monologue and snap your phone shut. Walking out you wave bye to Kanaya, and head to your apartment which is about two blocks away from The Coffee Shop.

Closing the door behind yourself you take off your coat and scarf and toss them on the spare chair you have in your living room other than the couch. Sitting down you sigh and look up at the ceiling. You begin to close your eyes when out of the corner of your eye you see your phone light up and begin to obnoxiously vibrate against the table. Groaning you stretch and pick it up letting the light flood your eyes.

Told you I'd text you ~Eridan.

You really hoped this asshole didn't sign his name on everything he typed.

A/N: Notes before continuing that you basically should know/disclaimers:

This story goes back and forth through two perspectives

This story was originally a one shot so unfortunately there will be little to no foreshadowing in this story and I make it up as I go along so I'm not sure where it's going to go!

If you have any questions about the story, wish to make a writing request, or bug me about editing errors you can read the FAQ here or you can just message me directly here

Warnings will be made at the beginning of each chapter

Any homophobic, racial, sexist perspectives are values of characters only and show no actual personality, morals, ideas, or thoughts of the author.

Please for the love of God do not assume any X is the default when it comes to race in this story? Please imagine that they are as they are in the comic with blank skin and assume racial headcanons as such. The only time this does not apply is when there is a specified race (which usually only happens in sex scenes). But even then you may ignore it.

Homestuck does not belong to me

With that said I hope you enjoy!