Title: Something’s Brewing Characters: Hibiki, Yamato, ensemble cast Rating: G Summary: Hibiki works at a coffee shop. Yamato has a request. OR How To Seduce Someone Over Caffeinated Beverages
A/N
HHHHERE’S THIS MONSTROUS PART 2, I hope it’s enjoyable @_@ It’s honestly been years since I’ve consumed any significant amount of Devil Survivor content, nor do I usually write fic so… I hope everyone isn’t painfully out of character. I built this off your first request for Yamato continually bothering Hibiki to join him as he works as a waiter, but it then it turned into parts coffee shop AU and… something else. Apologies as well for the tardiness, this ended up much longer than I had anticipated (tfw you try for about 1200 words and end up with 2800). Anyway, happy holidays Mogi!
Relentlessly, times moves on, despite the apocalypse and near end of the world. The freaky alien monsters have been destroyed, new relationships forged, lessons learned, and everything returned back to relative normality. The curtain has set, and the hero is returns to his mundane life, filled with more common stressors such as earning his college degree and keeping a part-time job at a coffee shop to help pay the bills.
…Or so Hibiki had thought, but the presence of one stubborn Chief of JP’s standing imposingly in front of the Starbucks counter is telling him otherwise.
Amused, Hibiki starts his usual customer service pitch. “Hi, welcome to Starbucks, what can I get for–”
“Hibiki,” Yamato cuts him off, “Come work for me. We could use someone of your skill and talent.”
“I– Huh? What?”
Yamato scowls slightly. “Work for JP’s. I know you have what it takes to succeed with us, yet you waste your potential working in this… chain restaurant. JP’s will reward you much more than this current position.”
Hibiki takes a moment to process this. “Yamato, you can’t just suddenly ask me to quit my job and work for you. While I’m working my current job.”
Yamato looks displeased. “How should I convince you, then?”
“Oh I dunno, how about starting with a ‘Help Wanted’ ad? A formal job description?”
“…Is that really what you require? Very well. I shall have such documents prepared.”
A line has started to form behind Yamato. Someone yells from the back, “Hurry it up, asshole! I have a meeting in ten minutes!”
Hibiki turns back to Yamato, “No, I was just joking– Look, now’s not really a good time for this. Can you come back later? And are you actually going to order anything?”
Yamato stares blankly at the expansive drink menu behind Hibiki. “A coffee. Anything. Just consider my offer, Hibiki” he states before shoving a bill at Hibiki and moving to glower around the pickup counter.
A coffee? Hibiki tries to quickly think of a suitable drink to ring up from that request. Damnit, this is a Starbucks! Everything is coffee! What brew? Hot or cold? What size? Hibiki glances over at Yamato, who is now busy talking to someone on his phone. The hardworking chief looks like the kind to prefer dark coffee… but, argh, what if he isn’t? And the amount of money he handed over was more than enough for a specialty beverage, never mind a regular cup of coffee… The fashionably-dressed girl next in line is starting to look annoyed as Hibiki dallies over drink options too, so Hibiki sighs and makes Yamato a latte, the most unoffensive drink he can think of at the moment, before moving on to soothe the next customer and forgetting all about Yamato’s proposal.
Consequently, Hibiki feels very awkward when Yamato appears again in the drink line a few days later. Anticipating a lengthy (and probably strange) conversation, Hibiki announces his break and calls his co-worker over to man the register. Darting out from behind the counter, Hibiki pulls the surly young man over to the back corner of the store.
“Yamato! You’re back.”
“Hibiki. Did you think about what I said last time?”
Hibiki grins, a little sheepishly. “Nope! How the heck did you find me here, anyway? I never told you where I work!”
“I have JP’s agents stationed throughout this entire city, Hibiki, and you showed quite the aptitude for demon summoning. Naturally JP’s keeps a close eye on your activities. Now stop avoiding my question.”
Well that was worrying. Hibiki shook off the urge to suspiciously peer around him for any hidden agents, and turned his attention back to the matter on hand. “Listen, Yamato. I just started this job and college. I can’t suddenly up and quit for some top secret government role! What am I supposed to tell my parents and professors? They’ll think I joined some sort of cult!” Hm, now that he thought about it, JP’s did summon demons.
Yamato crosses his arms. “JP’s is an official government office. Any form of notice you would need, we can provide. We will also provide education and training, or can pay for your current education.”
As sorely tempting as free higher education was, Hibiki was still unsure. It still felt like mere weeks since he was fighting for his life against things he used to believe were mere fairy tales. He just wasn’t sure if he wanted to go back to that. Yet there was no denying the benefits of the position were great, and he had enjoyed working with JP’s when he wasn’t stressing about the end of the world. Hibiki sighs.
“Thanks, Yamato, but I need more time to decide. I have to think more on this.”
Yamato nods. “I know very well that I cannot force your decision. However, I still believe what I told you earlier. You are strong, Hibiki… strong enough to even surpass me. JP’s, and all of Japan, would benefit greatly from your service.”
Yamato begins to turn to leave, but then seems to reconsider it and faces Hibiki again. Only now, the usually confident man seems… a little embarrassed? “I would order a drink, as well.”
“What kind of drink today? And be more specific this time!”
If Yamato felt more embarrassed, he hid it well. “I must admit, prior to our last meeting I had never taken my coffee with any added sugar or cream. I thought it frivolous as the drink was only good for its caffeine… but I see now that I was mistaken. I request you use your best judgment in selecting a sample of what is popular amongst patrons here.”
Hibiki’s smile grows wide. Was Yamato admitting to a sweet tooth? And was he giving Hibiki permission to serve him fanciful espresso drinks? This was an opportunity too good to pass up.
“You got it, chief! One venti double shot cinnamon dolce latte with extra whip, coming right up!” Hibiki laughed, prancing off to make the ridiculous order while leaving Yamato to sputter at the name.
The two fall into a somewhat odd routine after that, with Yamato stopping by Hibiki’s place of work at least once a week to order a drink and restate his intention to have Hibiki as his right-hand man. Hibiki, for his part, dodges the questions every time by suggesting the latest and fanciest drink on the menu for Yamato to try. Hibiki quickly has to go off-menu to keep things interesting, and starts concocting new brews of his own, to varying success (okay, so maybe takoyaki flavor wasn’t the best of ideas. Jungo’s suggestion of regular chawanmushi, but in a Starbucks cup, didn’t go over so well either). Failed recipes are usually met with mutters of “wasting potential”. But the slight smile Yamato gives when savoring a drink makes Hibiki feel warm inside as well, as if he was the one drinking a hot beverage.
Yamato begins to stay for longer, despite still being quite a busy man. Hibiki learns to align his breaks with his visits, and the conversation soon turns from Hibiki’s recruitment to other topics. The pair spend the time catching up on each other’s lives, and how their mutual friends are doing. Things like what Io and Daichi study, how those at JP’s have been handling the post-apocalypse cleanup, when Airi and Hinako’s next concert is, and so forth. Hibiki greatly enjoys these short moments, and one day jokingly writes his phone number on the cup he hands to Yamato. Hibiki’s pretty sure Yamato already has all his contact information anyway.
“Call me!”, it reads, with a crude scribble of a bunny head next to the number. Hibiki throws Yamato a wink when the silver-haired man gives him a questioning stare over the cup.
He certainly doesn’t expect Yamato to actually call him the day after. Nor for them to determine when they were both free so Hibiki could, of all things, introduce Yamato to more street foods. Gods, this is starting to sound like a date, Hibiki thinks.
He pauses. Polaris have mercy, this is practically a date, isn’t it? And he still hasn’t decided whether he wants to rejoin JP’s.
Daichi nearly dies choking on his drink when Hibiki explains the situation to him and Io over coffee. Hibiki’s two old classmates regularly stop by to visit after their various obligations, but today Hibiki had called both of them over to talk about his dilemma.
“AGH! Ack–, cough, s-seriously?! You’ve been having little tea dates with Yamato Hotsuin for the past several weeks, and he wants you as his closest– hack– damn, that’s hot– closest partner in JP’s?! And you just tell us now??” Daichi struggles to recollect himself as Hibiki thumps him on the back. If it was still doomsday week, everyone might have just received a short clip of Daichi hacking out his lungs. Hibiki thumps harder.
“Well, yes, though you don’t have to put it like that…”
“Dude, have you seen JP’s?! They’ve got – cough – their own private underground train! You’d be loaded! Aw man, how come I don’t get any jobs landing in my lap…”
Io has a worried expression as she cradles her cappuccino. “So… you’d be working with demons again? Won’t that be dangerous?”
Hibiki nods. He had considered the dangers of Yamato’s offer very seriously, and it was rightfully one of his greatest concerns. He had no desire to die early to some crazed demon, after all.
Daichi sobers up a little. “Yeah, hrk– Io’s got a point. Are you actually going to accept? You could just reject him, you know. But what do you want to do?”
Hibiki shakes his head. What does he really want? Does he want to work with the supernatural again? Or does he want to continue his ordinary student life, and probably find a normal, ordinary job? Peace was great, but working for JP’s means he would help maintain that peace, and he did sort of miss the intensity of his missions against the Septentriones and Triangulum. Though he enjoyed his current studies in business and relations, he didn’t really have a concrete career plan and every other potential occupation now seemed rather dull. But the one thing Hibiki knew he truly wanted…
Io and Daichi were showing concern over Hibiki’s extended silence. Io reaches out to gently pat Hibiki’s shoulder. “I know you’ll make the right choice. We’ll always be friends, and we’ll always be here to help you.”
“Yeah, that’s right!” Daichi chimes in, “We’ve got your back!”
Hibiki smiles. “Thanks, you two. I think I know what I’m going to do now.”
“Alright! That’s the Hibiki I know. Also! Have you guys seen this video… Wait,” Daichi had pulled the other two in close, but then suddenly sits back up. “Did you say Yamato was spying on us?!”
He springs out of his seat to start feeling up all the walls for hidden cameras, while Io tries to stifle her laughter behind her cup. Hibiki joins in on the laughter, his mind made up and his worries mostly dispelled. Really, he could not wish for better friends.
Yamato was not having nearly as much luck consulting his fellow JP’s members on what to do. While pacing the halls of JP’s, he had found Otome and Fumi seemingly gossiping about something-or-other, and had decided they seemed idle enough to deal with his griping.
“I have repeatedly brought up the issue with him, but he refuses to give me a straight answer. We have been at a standstill for weeks now… If his skills weren’t so valuable, I would have already ceased this pointless charade.”
Yamato looks up and is met with Fumi’s knowing smile. “What? If you have something to say, say it.”
“Is that really it, chief? Sounds like you’re a bit eager to have Hibiki underneath you.”
Yamato can’t seem to understand what his two subordinates are smirking about. “What? His position would technically be under mine, yes, but provided he shows enough merit he would be able to rise in influence to stand as my equal. As can all of you.”
This only seems to make Fumi more amused. “Oh, so you’re saying he just has to toughen up? To… harden and rise to the occasion?”
Makoto, who had been walking past the far end of the hallway during the middle of the conversation, seemingly trips over nothing and spills the box of old paperwork she had been carrying with a loud rustle.
Yamato is troubled by Makoto’s sudden clumsiness, but before he can do anything, Otome takes pity on the young man and cuts Fumi’s teasing off.
“What Fumi is trying to say, is that this obviously means a lot to you. You said it yourself, that you wouldn’t wait for anyone else. What Hibiki probably needs is just more time to really think about things, without you pressuring him over it. It’s a big decision to make! But don’t lose hope! I bet if you keep talking with him about other things, he’ll be charmed for sure!”
Otome nods sagely, though she has the same amused twinkle in her eye that Fumi does. She then grabs the smirking engineer by the arm and the two move towards the labs, discussing Fumi’s latest experiment. With Fumi and Otome walking off, Yamato turns his attention to Makoto, who is quietly trying to clean up the files she had spilled earlier.
“Sako, are you alright?”
“Y-yes, chief, I’m fine…” Makoto stammered, keeping her gaze focused on the papers on the ground.
“…Your face is red. Are you certain you are feeling fit to work today?”
“Yes, sir…”
Hibiki and Yamato’s “date” goes off without a hitch. Hibiki takes Yamato to all his favorite food stands and corner restaurants, sampling an enviable amount of dishes and snacks. Really, Hibiki is surprised Yamato could eat so much.
But Hibiki is anxious for reasons besides making sure Yamato likes the taiyaki they’re eating. He finally has an answer for Yamato on whether he will join JP’s, but the chief of JP’s hadn’t said a single word about it. Had he given up? Was Hibiki no longer wanted? Thankfully, Yamato sees Hibiki giving himself an ulcer and asks what’s on his mind.
“Yamato… I think I’ve decided.”
Yamato raises an eyebrow, silently motioning for Hibiki to continue.
“I’ve thought a lot about this, and I think I would like to work for JP’s. But! Before you get all excited, I have one condition. I don’t start until after I’ve graduated. It’d be too awkward to suddenly leave everything behind, and I want to spend some time living a normal life, still… Just in case I do change my mind. Would that be okay?”
Yamato considers this. It wasn’t ideal, but in the end, Hibiki was still agreeing to work for JP’s.
“Very well.”
“Alright! Wait, is that it?”
“What would you have me say? I trust you will not forget in a few years. I admit I had hoped you would join me sooner, but it is meaningless for me to try and force you into a position you do not currently want.”
He gives Hibiki another slight smile, then returns to chewing on his pastry.
Relentlessly, time continues to move forward. The years pass, and Hibiki grows ever closer to finishing his studies. Yamato still stops by the coffee shop in his spare time, though eventually Hibiki gets a different part-time job. The two remain in close contact, and could be said to grow even closer than before. Their time together expands from talks over coffee to visits to the local library, trips to local sites of interest, and even tours of the JP’s facility.
And in the blink of an eye, Hibiki had graduated, made his preparations, and officially enlisted in JP’s. The black coat feels heavy as he pulls it on, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Hibiki thinks he could get used to it.
Yamato nods approvingly as Hibiki walks out of the locker rooms. “Good, I’m glad that it fits. Now, let’s get to business. I have an assignment for you.”
Hibiki startles. What, already? Sure, he had prior demon handling experience, but he had just gone through orientation! Yamato had said all the seals and towers appeared maintained!
“Your first order of business, Agent Kuze, is… to make me a cup of coffee.”
Hibiki blinks. Yamato gives his slight smile.
“Well? Don’t keep me waiting.”
“You!! Didn’t you say making drinks was ‘wasting my potential’?”
Yamato genuinely laughs at this, and though Hibiki puts on a show of grumbling, he makes Yamato his coffee, just the way he likes it. Sure, his life wasn’t very ordinary anymore, but Hibiki wouldn’t have it any other way.
A/N
What did Hibiki really want? Well…
Surprisingly, Joe is not at all in a fic about… cups of joe. *ba-dum tsh*
