This is September's Drabble. Voted on by you, the readers. You picked Namjin and the trope coffeeshop. Next month's voting will be out soon! This will be out for one week here and then I will post it up on AO3... THANK YOU ALL for your support!
He was tired. Every day like clockwork he woke up at 3:30 am. Dressed quickly in an outfit picked out the night before. Before he quickly headed out the door to dash down to his own cafe. A sharp left turn through the alley and he was able to reach the backdoor to unlock it by four am sharp.
Once inside he would lean back on the door, shut his eyes, and take a deep breath. Letting it all sink in. Remembering that this was all his. His coffee shop, cafe, or bakery whatever the kids wanted to call it he was okay with. This was his dream, his life goal, and ambition. When he went to family gatherings he always held his head high and showed the others that he had made it. His dreams had come true.
Four am was hard to swallow some mornings especially in the winter, but it was his choice. He didn’t start this way. Two years ago when he had first rented this space it was just a small coffee shop. Nothing extra and only him. He would rush in at 5:30 am to get the pots going while running around to get the stools down, music on, and open the doors for the first customer at six am. But now, two years later he had pastries and rolls to get out fresh every morning. He had staff to prepare for and he had his loyal customers.
Customers that had been there from the very beginning that he needed to greet. Jin was officially established and he couldn’t be prouder. He was even featured in local papers and was the “hot new shop” in social media Nothing was missing in his life and he had, at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, accomplished everything on his ‘when I grow up’ list.
So, now what? That had been the question that swam around in his head as he mixed the pastry batter and brewed the coffee. His newest staff Jungkook had asked him that just the other day, “Hyung now that you have everything you dreamed of, what do you do next? What do you do when you have your dream?”
He didn’t know how to answer that. And it bothered him. The only other thing he had wanted was expansion, but realistically it was too soon. He had thought about a simple expansion maybe combining with another store or selling his pastries or coffee’s in a different location before purchasing another store. Although he would still need more media attention first.
Then again it wouldn’t be a bad idea to join someone close by, someone like a neighbor. Someone like the bookstore next door. And if that bookstore happened to be owned by a very attractive, very intelligent and tall Kim Namjoon who was Kim Seokjin to deny fate? Beside Namjoon has been a loyal customer since opening day two years ago. Ever faithful he came in every morning at 7:30 am on the dot. Ordered a triple espresso with a splash of cream before heading next door to open his bookshop.
He would be the perfect partner for Jin to expand with. In fact, Jin had even visited his shop a few times to peruse the shelves mainly the cookbooks but he wouldn’t be ashamed to admit the romance section also held his attention. The shop was very organized, had a good selection, and was clean. All the things Jin held in high regard.
So to sweeten the pot Jin made sure when he visited to take Namjoon a few pastries and an extra coffee now and again to show him how pleasurable it was to drink, eat and read together. After a few visits, Jin is convinced that their shops together would be unstoppable. Namjoon’s would need a few cosmetic updates but combined they would make triple the profits. After all the mega shops all have a coffee shop in them. So, he brought it up the next time he stopped in.
Needless to say, Namjoon was not feeling the idea in the same way. “Who would be in charge of the merchandise Hyung?”
Jin frowned, “Namjoon nothing would change you order your books I order my coffee and supplies for baking.”
When Namjoon rolled his eyes it took an act from above for Jin not to smack the pretty man, “but everything changes when we merge a business, for instance, who pays rent to whom as we both own our own buildings? And how would we determine how much? Also what happens if someone takes a book from my store and walks into yours and then walks out? How would you know they didn’t pay? Or what if they just leave the books over on your side and then who is going to put them away? And would your staff also work for me? If so, who do they call into and who would cover whose shift? I seriously doubt you want Taehyung anywhere near your ovens.”
Jin stared at him for a long time that day before he just walked off. By the time he walked back to his own store and to the kitchen, he had to start baking something. That’s how frustrated the attractive man-made him. “I am a businessman. Why is he acting like I don’t know what I am doing?”
Jin began to mix ingredients for the next day’s pastries as he worked on the new problems Namjoon presented.
How was he supposed to answer those questions? Wasn’t that something you figured out together when you went into business. It was something you sat down and hashed out together as partners, not one person fixing everything. At this rate, he should just own both businesses if he was going to be the one to solve all the problems. HELL he should just solve world peace and world hunger while he was at it!
Jin looked down and frowned when he saw the complete mess of dough. He had punched and rolled. There was no saving it but at least he felt better. With a sigh, he dumped it and cleaned up before going back home to prepare dinner and stew on the issues some more. Thinking of going into business with a partner was even worth all this hassle.
During the next week every morning when Namjoon came in at 7:30 on the dot, Jin made sure that he was ‘busy’ in the back with some form of pastry or baking so that he didn’t have to deal with the questions, looks or know it all-ness that he was sure Namjoon would present to him.
Once he was sure by the following week that he had answers to the stupidly obnoxiously much-needed questions he armed himself with danishes, Namjoon’s favorite of course, and coffee before heading back over to the bookstore.
“Seokjin-ssi! It’s good to see you! I was worried I offended you last time...” He watched as Namjoon turned red and looked away as he scratched the back of his neck.
“Please just call me hyung,” Jin waved off the awkwardness, “and about last time, I think I have a couple of ideas.”
Jin put the pastry and coffee toward Namjoon and dove in, “if we just put up a door between us that would prevent people from just wandering around without paying and we can have a sign. Also, your staff is your staff and would not cover in my area and vice versa unless we cross-train and hire them separately which would involve separate interviews. Also by just doing a door, we don’t have to split the rent or separate the building, you own yours I own mine.”
Jin felt super proud of all of that. Yes, it had taken him a week but he thought that there was no way Namjoon could counter-argue anything. When Namjoon was done with his Danish, Seokjin realized quickly that he was very wrong. “Well that would make sense Hyung but then why even put in a door? We can still just promote each other without having to take out valuable space where books could go? Not to mention that the construction would take time and could cause dust which can’t be good for your business. And at that point are we even combining shops?”
Jin groaned. He isn’t too proud to admit that he threw his hands up and stomped out of Namjoon’s shop groaning and mumbling about pig-headed stubborn men who can’t see the benefit to anything even if it’s handed to them on a silver platter.
That night Jin did something that he absolutely hates and hasn’t done since college. He did a cost analysis of running a bookstore without refreshments versus what income and profits would increase when coffee was added into the equation. He also added how mega bookstores use pastries and coffee as a way to bring in and keep customers longer. Making sure to print off articles on studies that show customers that have access to coffee and pastry spend overall 20% more than customers that do not have access to that.
He was up all night and barely made it to the shop on time to start his pastries. When Namjoon walked in at 7:30 on the dot he was startled by Jin yelling at him, “Ya! You don’t move or leave yet.”
Before watching as Jin raced to the back and came out with a stack of paper full of articles, graphs, and a spreadsheet. Jin dropped the massive stack hard on the counter while he proceeded to make Namjoon his morning cup of coffee and explain what it was. “So, as you can see Namjoon all the research is full of information that shows you everything you would ever need to back up what I have been telling you this whole time. Us merging business would be both cost-efficient and mutually beneficial for both of us.”
When Jin turned around he could see Namjoon was thumbing through the material. His mouth was wide opened and he was blinking slowly. “Hyung did you do all of this last night?”
“Uh, yes why?”
“Did you sleep at all?”
“Pfft, sleep is for wimps!”
“And how much coffee have you had this morning?”
“Three or four maybe eight cups,” Jin waves his hand in the air, “whatever the point is Namjoon-ah look at that information and facts. You can’t argue with facts. And the facts say we should merge business for both of us to benefit.”
“Okay Hyung. Let’s meet tomorrow night for dinner. That will give me a chance to review the stuff you have put together. It will also give you a chance to get some rest and we can figure out the details okay?”
Jin clapped his hands and wiggled in his spot reminding Namjoon of a puppy, “YES! I knew you would see things my way.”
Namjoon just shook his head and smiled, “okay hyung but for now, why don’t you try to get some rest and we will talk about it tomorrow. Do you have an employee that could cover for you?”
“Rest, pfft I don’t need rest I am made of coffee and steel I can literally hear colors. And see smells. The world is mine Joonie, you wait and see the world is mine.”
Jin saw a pretty shade of pink dusting Namjoon’s cheeks before he ducked his head and mumbled something before dashing out the door.
Three hours later…
“Uh, excuse me are you Kim Namjoon?”
“Yes, can I help you find a book?”
“Oh, no I was hoping you could maybe help me with my boss Kim Seokjin. The owner of Screamin’ Beans He is,” the boy paused and scratched behind his neck. “Well there is no delicate way to put this but he is quoting poetry while air punching.”
Namjoon’s eyes widened. “He’s what now?”
Namjoon watched as Jungkook demonstrated a bob and weave while quoting a really bad rendition of Robert Frost's two paths. “Oh, okay.” he turned to the only other person in the shop Taehyung, “hold down the store for a minute I’ll be back.”
Taehyung waved him off as he raced out the door and headed next door. Sure enough, Jin was behind the counter-punching air quoting Robert Frost.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
When Jin turned mid punch and saw Namjoon he suddenly stopped and smiled, “Joonie! Is it time for our date already? I am not even dressed! Oh did you like my poem? I figured you would like that one!”
Before he hopped in front of him and started to bob and weave while air boxing him waiting for his answer. “Hyung, did you have more coffee?”
“Of course! I have to stay awake. Many more hours in the day Joonie. Have to be in tip-top shape for you. Want to be my best for you!”
“Okay, but your employee is here now so you can go home and rest so that you can be in tip-top shape for me.”
Jin shook his head, “too much to do here and I can’t get home alone. I can’t feel my toes.”
Namjoon moved toward him slowly, “Hyung, that’s not good, maybe I should take you to the doctor.”
“Absolutely not! I am perfectly fine!”
Namjoon dropped his head back before slowly lifting it to look at Jin. Namjoon tried to reach out slowly to grab Jin so he didn’t fall while asking, “okay Hyung can I take you home?”
Jin jumped back out of his reach, “I am not an easy man Joonie. You can’t just take me home. I will need dinner and dessert before you get to go that far with me.”
Joon heard the young man who fetched him snort, “hyung that’s still pretty easy.”
“Hush Kook, I didn’t say it would be a cheap meal.”
Namjoon pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a deep breath, “well that’s good to know. But, not what I had in mind at the moment. How about we just get you home so you can rest.”
“I can’t rest, I have lots to do.” Jin twirled and stumbled nearly falling over but managed to catch himself with Joon’s hand on his elbow.
Namjoon smiled at him and then tilted his head as Jin’s mouth widened and he slowly walked toward him with his finger pointed out. “Joonie you never told me you had dimples. Maybe I don’t need dessert after all. How deep are they? Do you think my finger will fit?”
Jungkook was laughing behind them as Namjoon tried to dodge Jin’s finger, “hyung stop,” he moved to the left, “look. Wait, stop.” he grabbed at him amazed at how quick Jin was, “Hyung!” Namjoon was able to grab Jin’s wrist and get Jin to look at him by gripping his chin, “if you let me get you home I will let you poke my dimple.”
Jin whispered loudly, “that’s not an innuendo is it?”
“Jesus, Hyung. Are you sure he isn’t drunk?” Namjoon looked over Jin’s shoulder and saw Jungkook laughing so hard he was sprawled on the counter.
In between bouts of laughter and hiccups, Namjoon made out from him, “no he just gets like this when he’s super tired.”
“Right, okay hyung let’s get you home.”
“So I can poke your dimple.” Jin, sung out as he waggled his eyebrows toward Namjoon before turning and blowing a kiss at Jungkook. “Take care of the shop Jungkookie I am going to go home and poke a dimple.”
Namjoon let out a groan before he managed to get a very wiggly, squirmy and giggly Jin out of the coffee shop and down the street. Thankfully he lived only three blocks away so the journey while still long didn’t take forever. Namjoon only had to apologize a few times to strangers as Jin apparently liked to sing. And while his voice was great he also likes to overact the lyrics out.
Once in his apartment, they both struggled to remove Jin’s apron and shoes. Between the uncoordinated Namjoon and Jin’s constant need to dance, but eventually were able to get them both off. However once inside fully, Namjoon found it harder to keep Jin contained. “You’re really pretty Joonie, you know that right?”
“Come on Hyung let’s get you comfortable before the caffeine crash hits.”
“No like really pretty and the dimples.” Jin gave Namjoon a chef’s kiss, “I mean I only started going to your shop for cookbooks so that I could see you, and then well I thought if we combined stores you would have to talk to me every day. I mean don’t get me wrong this is going to be great for our businesses. It is a really good idea Joonie. But I also like talking to you and you are pretty.”
Namjoon’s eyebrows drew in as did his lips, “what do you mean hyung I come in every morning for coffee. I see and talk to you every day.”
He watched as Jin’s bottom lip stuck out after a big jaw cracking yawn broke free. “Yeah, but you only do that because the coffee is right next door. I’ve been trying to figure out how to ask you out forever but you come in order and leave. You never tell me how pretty I am or ask me out”
“And so you thought going into business would help with you scoring a dinner date?”
“But it did, didn’t it? Isn’t that what we were going to have tomorrow night? To talk about my beautiful charts and spreadsheets?”
He watched as Jin yawned again with a fond expression as Jin started to curl up into a ball on his bed. “Yeah hyung that’s what tomorrow night was going to be. A dinner date so that we could admire your charts and see about our future.”
Namjoon saw a smile form on Jin’s lips, “our future. I like that Joonie. I like that a lot.” Joon hummed in response as he pulled the blanket up over him and gently kissed his forehead.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night Jinnie.”
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