you make my heart shake (bend and break)
promo for @hogwartsaunet !!
Chapter 1/3
Word Count : 1,182
Pairing : James/Lily
Summary :
The most entertaining part of getting an early shift is seeing the disheveled and sometimes, frankly, horrifying customers who come in every morning, trying their best to maintain some semblance. (Lily knows she looks just as horrifying, but she also enjoys judging people, so her self-awareness takes a backseat.)
That’s why she’s unimaginably angry when she sees a man looking - it pains her to say dashing - when she turns around at 5:20 in the morning.
[or : remus makes lily take over his 5:00 shift at the cafe for a week, james shows up every morning and looks perfect, lily is intrigued and a little enchanted]
[AO3]
“C’mon, Lily, please , just for a week and then you’re done,” Remus begs. “Peter’s sick; you know how he gets. If I’m not there when he wakes up at 5:00 in the goddamn morning he’s going to freak out and burn down the flat and I don’t have the time or the money to find someplace else please please please please - ”
“Fine,” Lily says, more to shut him up than anything else. She considers hanging up, but decides that would be too cruel. “A week, but you cover my shifts for two.”
“I - fine,” Remus agrees. “That’s fair. Thank you so much; you’re the light of my life.” Lily hears a distant retching noise. “Oh, fuck - I have to go; Peter vomited on the new couch. Bye! Thank you!” He hangs up.
Lily quietly screeches as she switches to the Calendar app and sets an event - go to coffee shop - 5:00 am.
God, she hates everything.
i.
The most entertaining part of getting an early shift is seeing the disheveled and sometimes, frankly, horrifying customers who come in every morning, trying their best to maintain some semblance. (Lily knows she looks just as horrifying, but she also enjoys judging people, so her self-awareness takes a backseat.)
That’s why she’s unimaginably angry when she sees a man looking - it pains her to say dashing - when she turns around at 5:20 in the morning. He’s well-dressed, a wallet in the pocket of his suit jacket. The only thing slightly off about him is his hair - it sticks up everywhere, feathery and dark, but even that’s attractive on him.
“Hi! What can I get for you?” she asks, hoping she isn’t gritting her teeth too much.
“I’m James,” he blurts. He pauses - quietly sighs. “I mean, um, just a black coffee.”
“Okay, James,” Lily says, smiling. “One black coffee and nothing else? We have a selection of pastries if you’d like one of those.” She’s hoping he’ll fuck up again, but despite his moment of foolishness, he’s still ridiculously composed.
“No, thank you,” he says graciously.
“So are you heading to work?” she asks, making the coffee.
“Oh, no, just to a friend’s place. I’m only in college, actually.” Jesus fuck, Lily internally screams. He’s only in college and he’s still not a mess this early?
“You’re heading to a friend’s place at five thirty, dressed like that,” she says, still trying her best to smile. “That’s certainly interesting.” James’s features seem to turn oddly tight for a moment, but he grins back.
“I suppose it is,” he replies. He hands over a credit card. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“It’s my job,” Lily laughs, “but no problem.”
“Oh.” James pauses and looks away. “Right. Yeah. Um, are you on this shift tomorrow, too? I’m just asking because usually there’s a different guy here; sorry if I’m being creepy - ”
“I am,” Lily interrupts. “Yeah. I’m on this shift for the rest of the week.”
“Oh,” James repeats, and he looks away again. “Cool. Yeah. I’ll, er, see you tomorrow then,” he glances at her name tag, “Lily.”
“See you tomorrow, James.” James waves as he walks out, his suit still looking perfect. Lily dials Remus’s number.
“Hey, do you know anyone who goes to their friend’s place when the sun hasn’t risen yet wearing a three-piece suit?” she asks.
“Good morning,” Remus replies groggily. “I’m assuming you met James.”
“You’re right, and what’s wrong with him? Is he like this all the time?”
“Huh - yeah,” Remus yawns. “He is. It’s a little insane; one time he showed up at 4:40 and waited for the shop to open. His friend is hot, though, so that’s a plus.”
“Mm,” Lily says absentmindedly. How the hell is he like this all the time? Why the hell would he show up anywhere before 5:00 am?
“He’s sort of an enigma, I guess,” Remus continues.
“Enigmas are sexy, right?” Lily asks. She remembers the word cropping up far too many times in her sister’s old young adult novels.
“I mean, sure, but - are you into him? You can’t have talked to him for more than ten minutes.”
“No, I’m not - he’s just fit. I can’t admire a fit man without being into him?” she says, turning red despite herself. “I have to go now; a customer just arrived. Bye.” She hangs up before Remus can say anything.
ii.
When Lily arrives the next day, James is already there, looking more chipper than anyone should this early in the morning. “Hello again,” he says, laughing when his breath fogs up the air. Lily smiles, and her teeth chatter.
“Hi,” she answers. She opens the door and lets him in, following soon after to make her own coffee. “Same order as yesterday, or…?”
James’s suit is navy today, with a striped blue and white tie which looks a little ridiculous, but charmingly so. “Um, actually, could I get a hot chocolate with two espresso shots?” he asks. “And your number.”
“Sorry, what?” Lily asks, whipping around. He stares at her for a moment before repeating his statement.
“Could I get a hot chocolate with two espresso shots? My friend lumbers.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course, right; sorry, I must be - ” She sighs - rubs her palms against her face slowly. “I must be hearing things. I’m a little exhausted, but isn’t everyone?”
“I’m fine,” James says, still smiling toothily.
“Of course you are,” Lily grumbles. “Still headed to your friend’s house in a suit?”
“Indeed.”
“May I ask why?” she presses. Why? Why are you so well-dressed and composed this early? What is wrong with you?
“You could, but I wouldn’t explain,” James answers, his grin turning into something more lofty and arrogant than it was before. (It’s also hotter. Christ , Lily is screwed.)
“If you just said no like a normal person, it would be easier for everybody.”
“There’s only two people here.”
“Nonetheless,” Lily bites, with only a fraction of venom. James runs a hand through his hair.
“My friend is a strange man,” he says, and for only the second time, he’s stumbling across his words just a little. “And he’s obsessed with people being immaculately robed, no matter when they show up. Ergo, the suit.”
“Ergo,” she repeats, snickering. “Aren’t we posh?”
“Oi,” James snaps. “I’m allowed to be as posh as I want.”
“You’re allowed to do anything,” Lily returns, handing him his hot chocolate. “That doesn’t mean you should.”
“So murder’s okay, then?” he asks innocently. “That would be useful.”
“You know what I mean,” she says, scowling. “Don’t play dumb.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Fuck off.” James giggles - honest-to-god giggles and it’s incredibly adorable - before handing her his credit card. She sort of wants to act as if she’s in a romantic comedy, touch his hand slightly before acting shocked and pulling away, but she remembers that this is real life and she probably won’t see him after this week.
“See you tomorrow,” James calls as he leaves, waving a little too enthusiastically. Lily smiles despite herself and waves back.
“See you, James.”