A Day In The Life (Egos x Reader, Dapper x Reader, Platonic!Wilford x Reader, Platonic!Mare x Reader)
Hullo everyone! I’m Tree Anon, and this is a small little story based off an AU @freckled-words and I made over on their blog!
Edit: Another thing, a lot has changed since I wrote this auch as relationships (platonic and romantic), age, and... well personality too.
Warnnings: I believe there is a few cuss words. Also, there is a stalker. And this is mostly unedited because I am horrible at editing.
The steam coming off your coffee smelled sweet, as if it were trying to mirroring the sweetheart pink color of the liquid. Behind the counter Wilford smiled at you, which you returned.
“You never cease to amaze me.” You murmured into your drink as you took a sip. He passed you a plastic lid that you snapped onto your cup without pausing the conversation. “Wilford, I have been asking this for years - how do you get coffee to be pink?” The bubbly man simply held a finger up to his lips, as if shushing you.
“Trade secrets, my dear.” He sent you a playful wink before resuming his work. But you weren’t done with him just yet.
“Awe, c’mon Wilf. You can tell me.” You enjoyed teasing the man with a pink moustache, almost as much as he enjoyed teasing you. You giggled at the overexaggerated look of contemplation on his face.
“Could,” He confirmed with a shrug. “Don’t mean I would.” He playfully flicked some whipped cream at you over the counter.
“You suck.” You say, licking the cream off your arm. Wilford’s older brother Dark exited the kitchen carrying freshly washed mugs. You stuck your tongue out at Wilford before turning to the older man. “Dark, your brother’s being mean to me.”
“Be mean back to him.” Dark said without missing a beat. “As long as you don’t make a mess.” He ignored the look of exasperation on his brother’s face. “After all, we do have a reputation to uphold.”
“Score one for (Y/N).” You threw an unopened packet of sugar at Wilford, who muttered under his breath as he bent down to pick it up. “Well Wilf, it’s been a lovely time but I’m afraid I gotta go. Sweets across the street await me.”
“Awe, why you keep goin’ to the Septic Bakery?” Bing, the youngest of the Iplier brother’s, asked from his place at the register. “We got plenty of food over here.” He motioned proudly to the small variety of cookies and scones that he and Google had made.
“I…” You hid shyly behind your cup to-go cup. “I like their cupcakes.” You took a long sip of your coffee. Wilford leaned over the counter, looking you directly in the eye.
“The cupcakes, or the cupcake baker?” He whispered teasingly, only loud enough for you to hear. You found yourself almost spitting out your coffee, and didn’t hesitate to slap your friend on the arm.
The Ipliers had a rivalry with the bakery across the road, owned by the Spetic brothers. They were always trying to outdo each other - but you enjoyed both establishments, and the owners. Though you enjoyed some of them, as Wilford knew, more than others. The silly man was such a gossip so it was no surprise that he knew of your not-so-small crush on JJ, the Septic’s cupcake chef.
“Goodbye, Wilford. Bing, Dark.” You glared in Wilford’s direction playfully before making your way to the exit.
“See you, (Y/N).” Bing said. From the doorstep of the Iplier’s coffee shop, the bright green banner of the bakery across the road was hard to miss. And from where you stood, you could see Henrik manning the cash register as he always did. You grinned to yourself, eager to cross the road. You could smell the pastries before you’d opened the door.
“Look who it is!” You were greeted when Jackie exited the kitchen, carrying a fresh tray of cookies. Henrik handed a customer their to-go bag before looking at you.
“Ah, (Y/N), gud to zee you.” He smiled. “Ze usual, I assume?” He asked as you approached the counter.
“And a cookie, please.” You took in a deep breath, eyes closed. “Good lord those smell amazing.”
“We wouldn’t want anything less - can’t have the Ipliers making better cookies than us.” Jackie scrunched up his nose, using a metal spatula to remove the cookie from the try, placing the directly onto the shiny white plate inside their display case.
“Well, I do have to say, Bing and Google aren’t too bad. You might have some competition.” You giggled when both Henrik and Jackie gave you a nasty look. “Guys, I’m joking.” You stole a glance at the double doors leading to the kitchen, which Henrik noticed.
“Don’t vorry, he’d never let you leave without saying goodbye.” You clutched your coffee close to your chest, trying to stop the heat from rising in your cheeks. “In fact, I zink he has something for you,” He turned to his brother. “Man the register?”
“I got you covered.” Jackie nodded. Henrik disappeared into the back, leaving you out front with Jackie. “How many cookies was that you wanted?”
“Just one.” You hummed, watching the double doors closely. “What would JJ have for me?”
“Beats me.” Jackie shrugged, grabbing a small bag to put your cookie in. “You two are adorable, by the way.” You took a moment to wonder just how much people enjoyed teasing you about your crush.
“Jackie,” You were cut short when JJ emerged from the kitchen into the main part of the bakery. He had a small bag held in both his hands, and a blush dusting his cheeks. As he approaches you, he almost seems to shrink into an invisible shell. “Hey JJ.” You smiled at him. His eyes met yours, and he smiled shyly beneath the thick moustache sitting on his upper lip. He waved shortly in greeting.
As far as you knew JJ had been born mute. He spoke to his brothers using ASL, but he usually wrote down what he wanted to say to you. Though you had picked up and learned a few phrases here and there, it wasn’t enough to hold a conversation. That was something you planned on changing, something you had talked to the eldest of the Septic brothers, Angel, about.
JJ seemed to struggle internally before holding the bag out to you, breaking eye contact and refusing to look at you. You took the bag from his hand gently and peeled it open. Sitting in the bottom of the bag, in a plastic container, was a vanilla cupcake decorated with small, pink flowers and edible glitter. You gazed at in in awe.
“Oh, JJ, it’s beautiful.” You grinned at him. Your compliment of course caught his attention, and he watched you inspect the tiny little details with fondness. “Thank you.” You set down the cupcake and your coffee to fish your wallet out of your purse. “How much I owe you?” JJ’s hands flapped almost rapidly, looking at Jackie in desperation when all you did was give him a confused look. Jackie rolled his eyes.
“It’s on the house.” JJ nodded in agreement. You shook your head.
“Oh, JJ, you don’t need to.” He waved you off. He pointed at himself, then made a pulling gesture with both hands. It didn’t take much to understand what he was saying. “Awe… Thank you, JJ.” You pulled the lanky man into a tight hug, which he returned eagerly. When you pulled away, you smiled sweetly. “Any reason why?” He bowed his head shyly and shrugged. Suddenly Anti, Angel’s twin, burst through the kitchen doors.
“Yo, JJ, get your ass back in the kitchen, or else your cupcakes are gonna burn.” He said as he began clearing tables. JJ’s head shot up, and he waved a quick goodbye before scrambling back into the kitchen.
“You gotta stop doin’ that to the poor guy, Anti.” Jackie scolded lightly. Anti rolled his eyes, tossing his younger brother a look. It was then that he saw you.
“Ah, you’re why he was out here.” He said, wiping down one of the tables with a steaming washcloth. “He give you that cupcake yet?”
“Subtle, Anti.” Jackie grumbled. You giggled lightly, then held up the bag so Anti could see it. He nodded shortly before continuing with his work. You turned back to Jackie, who was glaring at his brother’s back. He passed you the cookie.
“How much?” You asked, pulling your wallet out. Jackie opened his mouth, then closed it, like he was thinking.
“Usually they’re three. For you?” He leaned in close like he was telling you a secret. “Two.”
“What have I done recently to deserve such kindness today?” You joked, pulling out a five.
“You’ve been you.” Jackie said, exchanging your five for three crisp one dollar bills. You put your wallet away and stuck your change into your pocket, knowing you’d need it shortly. “You goin’ ta stick around today, or you busy again?”
“I’ve got a deadline in two days and I’m only about three fourths through my article.” You told him. Jackie whistled lowly. “Yeah. But that’s Journalism for you.” You shrugged. “Thank you for the cookie. And thank JJ again for the cupcake.”
‘You know why he gave it to you, right?” Jackie asked. You shook your head. “Well today is January twentieth, twenty eighteen. And your first visit was January Twentieth, twenty seventeen.” He smiled as he saw realization settle on your face.
“Oh my, it’s really been a year?” You laughed lightly. “And he remembered?” You looked down at the small paper bag.
“Course he remembered.” Jackie scoffed. “He don’t like you for no reason.”
“You keep saying that,” You sigh. “But JJ sees me as nothing more than a friend.”
“That cupcake says otherwise.” Anti spoke up. You contemplated this for a moment, then your eyes caught the clock on the wall.
“I have to get going.” You murmured, picking up your forgotten coffee off the counter. “Thank you guys, again.”
“Any time, (Y/N).” Jackie said with a wave. Anti didn’t say anything, as per usual, so you no-so-subtly rushed out the front door. The streets weren’t too busy, but you kept yourself close to the shops as you walked. It wasn’t long before you hear the familiar stum of an acoustic guitar. You could see, not too far ahead, a small crowd of patrons blocking the walkway.
Damn, you think to yourself, they really know how to draw in a crowd. As you approached, you caught a glimpse of the musicians. You wiggled your way to the edge of the crowd, where you could just see them over someone else’s head. The four musically inclined brothers (quadruplets!) all sat on a short, brick wall with their instruments.
Mare, Eram, Light, and Mercer Battle. They didn’t come from much, but from what you’d seen they had great potential. Mercer sat on the far left playing his guitar while Eram sat to his right, ukulele propped in his lap. Mare sat directly on the floor between Eram and Light, smoking a cigarette as he sang. Light drumbed lightly against the bongos in his lap in tune to his brother’s sound. They were playing a song you’d never heard before, most likely something they had written themselves. You remembered the first time you’d heard them. It was a week or two after you’d started going to Coffee Shop and Bakery - like everyone else, you’d been drawn in by the melodic sound of the Battle’s music. They had been doing a cover of a Panic! At the Disco song you absolutely loved with Eram and Light on vocals while Mercer and Mare played their guitars. Out of all of them, Mercer probably sang the least. But his voice left you almost breathless when he did.
As their song came to an end the crowd began to disperse. People here and there tossed some bills into Mercer’s guitar case. You were one of them.
“Hey doll face,” Mare greeted you, dropping his cigarette and stomping out out with the hell of his shoe. “How’d you like the song?”
“Well,” You started. “I think I missed some of it. But I absolutely love what I heard.” You smiled at them. “I can’t say this enough - you four are amazing.”
“Awe, such a flatter.” Mare sent you a wink. “Thanks.”
“Do you think there was anything we could improve on?” Eram asked, pulling his ukulele close to his chest. You’d learned quickly that the Battle brothers enjoyed feedback. You bit your lip, then nodded.
“I though the end was just a bit… fast. It sounded a little rushed.”
“Told you.” Mercer said, looking at Mare.
“Oh, shut up.” Mare scoffed.
“Guys,” Light sighed. “It’s not a great time to argue.” He looked to you and smiled. “Thanks for the donation.” You nodded.
“So, you finally gonna tell me your name?” Mare asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. He’d been asking your name for the past few months after realising he’d never actually knew, and to keep yourself amused you never even gave him a hint.
“Hmmm… Nope.” You poked your tongue out at him. “I think I’m good.” You could see the looks of amusement on Eram and Light’s faces. Mare placed a hand over his heart and scoffed.
“C’mon doll face. You’re killin’ me here.” He put his hand back in his pocket and smirked. “You’ll tell me one day.”
“What would be the fun in that?” You took a long sip of your drink. “I have to get going. Bye boys.” There was a collective goodbye as you began walking away. But it wasn’t a very long walk before an arm snaked around your waist. You nearly dropped your drink in surprise before you noticed it was Mare. “Mare, are you that desperate?”
“Keep walking.” He murmured, keeping his eyes forward. “There’s a man who’s been following you.” His words sent a shiver up your spine. You clutched your cupcake bag tightly, and managed to throw back the last of your coffee as you and Mare walked down the street, his arm wrapped protectively around you.
At the next corner, you guys turned. And you didn’t fail to notice when Mare took another turn, and another. He’d walked you in a circle. Then, he coughed into his shoulder, taking the moment to glance behind you two.
“Fucking finally.” He grumbled, pulling back his arm. The two of you stopped walking outside a small flower shop. You were unsure what to say, but felt rather shaken. You hadn’t even seen the guy, but the very thought of someone - a stronger! - following you sent a wave of fear through you. “Hey, hey, you’re fine.” Mare placed his hands gently onto your shoulders. “C’mon doll face, breath.” You gripped his arm tightly, taking in shaky breaths until they slowly evened out. You didn’t realise you had been crying until he wiped away your tears.
“Thank you.” Was all you managed to get out. You two stood there for what seemed like forever, no words passing between you two.
“Can I…” Mare glanced around one last time, making sure the guy was truly gone. “Can I walk you home?” You chuckled nervously.
“You sure you’re not my stalker?” You attempted a joke, which elicited a snort from Mare. “But.. yes, please, if it’s not a bother.” You agreed. Mare offered your his arm, which you accepted. As you approached your building your nerves came down from the edge, and you pushed out a sigh of relief. “This is me.” You nodded to your apartment building. Mare pulled his arm away from you. “Thank you again. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
“Hmmm,” Mare smirked. “How about that name?” You took a real moment to contemplate it this time. After all, he saved you a great deal of trouble - god knows what would have happened if Mare hadn’t come around. You could be dead. Shaking the thought away, you put on your best smile.
“(Y/N).” You were surprised by the smile that broke out on his face.
“Knew you’d tell me some day!” He laughed. “Wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Yeah.” You nodded shortly. “Anyway. I have something I gotta do. Bye, Mare.”
“Bye, (Y/N).” He smirks at you, waving shortly before he begins walking back in the direction of his brothers. You decide to take the stairs up to your apartment, not wanting to wait for the crappy, slow elevator. Once inside the safety of your apartment, you flopped onto the couch with every intention to binge watch your favorite show and enjoy the lovely cupcake given to you by a lovely man.
And that is exactly what you did.
