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i-ntrmission · 4 years ago

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Nine (Van McCann)

Just a silly little fic where Van is sporadic regular at a coffee shop.

Part 1 (4.3k)

They say bad things happen in threes.

Your phone hadn’t charged overnight, leaving you with 15% battery.

A car ran through a puddle during your walk to work, soaking your legs.

An elderly man held the door of the coffee shop open for you, gesturing with a newspaper for you to go ahead, and a smile that you couldn’t help but reciprocate, until a busy mum storms out from the shop knocking into you and spilling fresh coffee down your jacket.

“Tough morning, eh?” Your co-worker, and resident barista genius, Toby comments with a chuckle while you stomped around the counter. Having seen what just happened, and taking in your soaked tights.

Julia, resident window art and slogan genius, glancing around from the till with a sympathetic pout while you roll your eyes at Toby, pushing on the staff door.

“Oh, leave off Tobes - leave her be. That was tragic, babe. Spare tights in my bag, help yourself.” She says before turning back to the line of customers.

“Cheers, Julia.” You sigh in relief while heading into the back, Toby’s dry chuckles and singsong of ‘Happy Friday!’ following you.

Once you have on dry tights, cleaned what you can from your jacket (thankfully it was leather), and hunted down a spare charger for your phone, you grab your apron and head back out.

By some grace of god, you had a later shift for today, meaning you missed the usual breakfast run full of impatient office employees, half asleep students, pass remarkable construction workers - thankful, with the way your morning had went you wouldn’t have been fit for dealing with that kind of stress this morning. Now in the clear for the easy hours before lunch.

“There she is,” Toby, a lazy grin when you re-emerge, Julia leaning on the counter beside him sipping from a mug, basking in the post breakfast rush comedown. “Here ya go, looks like you need it.” He slides a takeaway cup over to you, and you all too eagerly take a sip. Caffeine can nearly always fix anything, especially a bad morning.

Cinnamon caramel macchiato, a hum of appreciation and a drawn out ‘thank you.” He only chuckles out a ‘no bother’, picking up his tea. You had always found it ironic that someone who despised the taste and smell of coffee worked in a coffee shop, and on top of that made really fucking good coffee.

“So what’s happened you? Apparent from the coffee incident obvs, looked like you wanted to throttle all us when you came in,” Julia asks, brown eyes glancing over you as she takes another sip from her mug.

“Nah, she just always looks like that,” Toby says, a teasing grin. You just roll your eyes, it was true that your resting bitch face was Medusa level.

A sigh, taking another mouthful of your coffee and picking up a basin to start clearing the tables with while you shrug and launch into the story of your morning.

“Happens in threes, doesn’t it.” Julia comments when you catch them up.

"Well, that's my three strikes done for the day, thank fuck,” you shrug. She frowns at that.

"Touch wood."

"What?"

"You jinxed it saying that, need to touch wood for good luck!" Appalled that you never heard of the superstition at question.

Rolling your eyes, a huff as you walk away to start cleaning up. “Think I’ll be alright, Jules.” You weren’t superstitious. “Want some salt instead? Throw it over your shoulder!” Toby chuckles.

Julia only elbows him in the side, telling you both to piss off, mumbling something about having to spill salt first before you could do that.

But, maybe there was some truth in her superstitions because no less than ten minutes later, a cup slipped through your fingers smashing on the floor. Cursing yourself and then glancing meekly in her direction, she watched with a raised brow.

“Reckon it’s too late to touch wood?”

After the cup, you break a plate.

After the plate, you stand back to let a toddler and mum pass by you to get to the bathrooms, standing back with a smile - until you knock over a stand of artisan coffee bags.

“Another three down,” Julia mutters with a smirk while stacking clean cups.

“Sure you don’t want that salt?” Toby quips while walking by you as you sweep up spilt coffee beans. You give him the finger behind the dustpan you held, he reaches up as if to scratch at his beard - sliding his middle finger along his cheek, right back at you.

Your bad luck continues. During the lunch rush you manage to burn a granddad’s toasted sandwich, shortchange a regular who worked in the bookies across the street, and upend a student’s iced latte over your top.

You’re hopelessly scrubbing at the stain on your top when Julia walks into the back, grabbing her pack of fags.

“Jesus,” she mumbles, a dumbfounded look at how much you had managed to fuck up today. Completely out of character for you, a perfectionist by nature. “Did ya break a mirror or sommat lately?”

You only sigh and shake your head, “Any significance in the number 9?”

She thinks for a second, then smiles as she pulls a lighter from her jacket pocket. “9 is supposed to be good luck, actually. New beginnings,” she tilts her head, looking at you, “maybe buy a scratch card, or come to the pub quiz tonight!”

You laugh but before you can reply your manager walks in, a empathic glint in her eye. Everyone who worked here adored Carly, the ultimate mother figure. A caring but also a take no shit kind of person.

Your name - as she walks in, “what’s going on, pet? You’re a one man wrecking machine today!”

She tells you to take an early lunch, go home and get changed, clear your head and the come back. You sigh in relief of not having to wear a soggy blouse for the rest of the day. Half way home when you realize you’ve left your phone charging under the counter.

Finding Julia’s cat, Kurt, sitting on the steps to your and Julia’s shared basement flat. He purrs, pushing his head into your hand when you reach down to pick him up. You spend the next half hour sprawled on your bed with Kurt, eating rice crackers and watching “Best of Dean Winchester” complications on YouTube. Self care.

An hour later, when you walk back into the cafè Julia does a double take, stretching her arms wide and tilting her head in a ‘what the fuck!’ manner.

“Yeah? What’s up?” You ask, walking around the counter to pick back up your apron.

“Where’s your phone?! I’ve been texting you! Guess who’s bloody back?” A rush, and she’s all but bouncing on the spot, eyes gleaming with excitement.

You reach under the counter to pick up your phone, holding it up to her. It was still turned off but charged now. Telling her you forgot about it before you left. Not really bothered about her sudden elation, probably just one of her newest little crushes that changed every month. You entertain her, nonetheless.

“Who? Your man from the butchers?” Asking, while tying your apron, she shakes her head, eyes alight.

“Hm, weird uni Tolstoy wannabe?” You guess again, she shakes her head, then adds that he’s not weird just a bit eccentric and there’s nothing wrong with that. You still think the fact that he’s read War and Peace four times, and brags about, is a red flag.

You’re about to suggest the blonde and blue haired girl from the library when she cuts you off. “Anyway it’s nowt to do with me, cmon you know who it is!”

You only stare at her, blinking and out of guesses. She sighs your name is exasperation.

“Christ, you’re hopeless today. It’s only Van fuckin’ McCann, isn’t it!”

Your eyes widen, heart kicking around your ribs and blood pounds a bit harder at mention of his name. A reaction that surprises you.

“Fuck off!” It comes out as an alarmed whisper.

Van McCann had been coming to the coffee shop for three years now. Often showing up for a few days at a time and then seemingly disappearing off the face of the earth.

He had an obsession with the loyalty cards you dished out with the paper cups, nine stamps got a free drink. He never filled one.

He first showed up three summers ago, middle of a heatwave. He was wearing all black, ripped jeans, and a holy jumper. The holes and rips didn’t seem to be a fashion statement, more like he had just worn the clothes to death. He was pale, too pale. Shoulder length hair that definitely hadn’t seen a shower in a couple days, bags under his eyes. Towing along a smaller guy with long hair and a bandana. They looked out of place. A cloud of cigarette smoke lingering around them, underlying weed.

You and Julia had exchanged a glance. “Homeless? Junkies?” She mouthed at you, after they had sat down with their teas and cinnamon buns you had freshly made that morning. You had rolled your eyes, told her to stop being a judgmental prick.

He came back the next morning, on his own. Same jeans but a black T-shirt, and fluffy hair. You had been cleaning tables, observing while Toby served him. He wanted another cinnamon bun, Toby told him he was out of luck, you hadn’t made them that morning. Glancing over his shoulder with interest when Toby had pointed you out as the resident baker.

The third morning he was back again, a Glasvegas T-shirt. Julia told him you loved that band while he was waiting on his coffee. You were putting out fresh cherry and chocolate scones, when he caught your eye.

“Ey, they’re class aren’t they? What’s ya favourite song?”

You always struggled to hold his gaze when he looked at you, that didn’t change with time. Insanely blue eyes framed with lashes that were wasted on him. You shrugged, “probably Lots Sometimes.” And he had broke out into a wide grin, giving you the first glimpse of his slightly crooked bunny teeth.

You had given him the first of many loyalty cards that day, seeing as he had come in for three mornings straight, he pocketed it with a little huff of laughter, novelty.

He didn’t come back for months after that.

You and Julia spent the next few days speculating who he was and where he had gone, passing slow shifts. Toby rolled his eyes at the theories, saying that he most likely found the new Starbucks across town. Julia sighed in disappointment while muttering something about how conglomerate multi nationals were the root of all evil.

However, he turned up again a month or two later. A busy morning, frantic. You hadn’t even had a chance to look up at the next person in line when you heard his voice, “well ‘ello again, Glasvegas.”

And that’s how it went on, the cycle of Van appearing for a little bit then vanishing for longer. Each time he easily became the best part of the long days - banter, shameless flirting, footie talk with Toby, taste testing any and everything you had baked as a trial run, swapping stories, endless loyalty cards.

He always had a strange little smile when you added an fresh coffee cup stamp to the grid, something the general customer didn’t really care about and it was often a surprise when they filled the card up.

He never gave a heads up when he would be leaving again, he simply just disappeared. And you tried to pretend it wasn’t weird that you got a plummeting feeling in your stomach when it came to the day he didn’t show up. Blue eyes, freckles, a contagious laugh. It was all lingering stares, fingers brushing longer than necessary, throwaway salacious comments.

“C’mon babe, you know he’ll be back, quit sulking,” Julia would playfully elbow you when the day came, and you shook your head with snort, “Shut up, M’not sulking.”

You eventually found out he was in a band, and sometime last year he had asked you if you wanted to come to one of his gigs. Well, he had asked the three of you - but Julia was going on holidays that weekend, Toby had a wedding, and when his eyes met yours you had instinctively crafted a lie about going to visit your sister in London. Something Julia gave you shit for for weeks afterward. You didn’t have a sister, and you hated London.

A few weeks after that incident - by then Van was long gone, Julia stormed into the café with an NME magazine in hand, slamming down on the counter, Van’s face filled the cover.

“Fucking hell!” You and Toby had exhaled in near unison.

“So turns out he’s actually proper famous then, eh?” Julia laughed.

“Am I the bad boy of rock, then? Oh mate..” Toby read from the cover, laughing. “And you turned down the chance to be his bands groupie!” He joked, turning to you.

“Here, I thought he wanted us to go watch his shite Arctic Monkeys rip off band play sweaty Whelans okay?!” You defended.

“Do you think we can start a wall of famous regulars now?” Julia changed the subject, taking a fresh scone you were laying out, flicking to the pages of his interview.

“Yeah, Rock’s bad boy Van McCann and Barry from Eastenders. What a lineup...” Toby snorted, going back to stacking coffee beans.

“I mean, Van kind of looks like Hugh Grant... If you squint.” You shrugged.

You and Julia went home and watched countless Catfish and the Bottlemen interviews and live sets, you liked seeing how Van never changed. No matter who he was talking to. Treating everyone like they were an old friend, not someone he had just met 5 minutes ago.

The band seemed to really take off that year, he came back less and less. But he was still the same old Van when he did, success didn’t change him. Then their second album dropped a year ago, and you hadn’t seen him since. You were happy for him, it was obvious that he was living his dream. Eventually, you stopped thinking about him all that much, life moved on.

Now you were looking at a smug Julia, instinctively glancing around the shop while she laughs and tells you he’s long gone.

“Came in literally 5 minutes after you went out, this day is honestly like some weird fever dream.” She tells you, while Toby comes out from the back.

“And she told him you didn’t work here anymore, should have seen the poor lad’s face!” Toby chuckles.

The two of them look at at each other with a groan when you ask why he’d be upset about you not being here anymore.

“I swear to god, if I have to watch the eye fucking over coffee cups for the next few days...” she sighs, an eye roll. “He’s made it obvious he’s fancied you since the first day he walked in, yeah? Give him a chance!”

“Fucking hell, that’s pure bollocks,” exasperated. Met with a disbelieving look, which only brings you further into defensive mode. “Look, you even gave him my number on one of the stupid loyalty cards last time, never even heard from him. Obviously isn’t interested one bit.”

Julia had asked you if she could write your number on his loyalty card last spring. You had only half said yes, half said no. Noncommittal, all she needed to run with it. She handed it back to him without saying anything, only a smug smirk. You pretended you hadn’t sprung for your phone at every notification for the next two weeks in hope of hearing from him, you never did.

Julia - another eye roll, hands in the air, “Dunno, maybe he just lost the card! You just need to stop writing people off before you get to proper know them!”

The rest of the day dragged, but no more bad luck. As if the universe realigned around Van, which probably wasn’t too far from the truth.

By closing time, it’s just you and Toby left to do the clean up and lockup. It’s nearly 9 when you hear him drawl your name, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the doorway.

“Hey, Kiddo...”

“Toby, my love, what have I told you about patronizing me before you ask me for a favour?” Humming while you put cling filmed dough into the fridge for the pecan pie you were planning on making tomorrow morning.

He laughs and walks in, leaning against the counter. “Alright, sorry - princess.”

Shutting the fridge as you turn to face him with an eye roll, wordlessly telling him to go on. He launches into the how he kind of maybe forgot that his anniversary with his fiancée is tomorrow, their usual Italian restaurant they go to every year is fully booked but he knows the chef. Who, as of this morning, promised to do a private dinner for them, if he meets him at half nine and buys him a couple of drinks.

You listen while you clean off the counter tops, shaking your head with a laugh. “Dunno, mate. What’s in it for me? I mean apart from the joy of mopping floors and taking out the bins?”

Playful - a long sigh. “Isn’t the selfless act of helping out a friend in need reward enough?”

“Yeah, but we’d have to be friends first for that wouldn’t we?” You tilt your head.

“God, you’re such a little bitch sometimes, y’know that?” He chuckles, you shrug. “Right, how about I take the bins out and mop the floors all of next week, and I’ll treat ya to a Sunday roast down the pub after we finish Sunday, deal?”

He holds out his hand, eyes narrowing. Pretending to mull it over for a few seconds, you wouldn’t have made a fuss about him asking you to finish up tonight anyway, but he was always too easy to wind up. Eventually you sigh out a “suppose so” and take his hand.

Pulling you into a hug, dragging out a noise that resembles, ‘legend’ while kissing your head.

Once he’s gone, along with the rubbish, locking you in and halfway pulling the shutter down outside, you put on a Richard Ashcroft album and start on the floor.

Crazy world - you’re half singing along to the chorus, and finishing the floor, when you hear a faint noise behind the music. Insistent tapping. Confusion clouding - knowing you were here alone, glancing behind you, your grip tightening on the mop. And you almost jump out of your skin, a shadow in the entrance to the shop.

It’s Van.

He had clearly ducked under the shutter, now outside the door silhouetted by buzz of streetlamps, tapping on the glass. He laughs at your startled expression, holding up his hands and mouthing ‘sorry, sorry!”

Heart - thumping even harder now, lightheaded. Grabbing your keys to unlock the door, and when you’re face to face with him your mouth goes dry.

“Thought you’d gone and left on us, Glasvegas,”

Gaze flickering over you, a smile tugging on his lips. You can tell he’s been drinking, the all too familiar scent of hours spent in the pub lingers, mixed with fresh cigarettes, shrunken pupils and glassy eyes. A wave of trepidation prickles along your arms, drunk men made you nervous.

But - it’s Van, all messy hair, drunk eyes, and a lazy tired kind of grin. Relaxed and happy.

“Nope, still here like always,” releasing a breath you didn’t realise that you had been holding. Focusing on his necklace, sliver glinting under opened shirt buttons. “Heard Julia was messin’ with you earlier, eh?”

“Too good at fuckin’ with us that one,” he laughs, licking his lips. “Had me dead convinced you’d gone.”

Creased blue shirt - sleeves rolled up, the colour only makes his eyes look even more blue, and even more pretty. Finding yourself being increasingly self conscious despite his equally disheveled appearance. Knowing that your foundation was separating, concealer caking, mascara flaking and lipstick long gone. Coffee stains and flour marking your clothes.

“Did you want to come in for a sec?” You manage to ask.

“Can I? Won’t get ya in trouble or anything? Cause yous are closed.”

You laugh, rolling your eyes while beckoning him in. “C’mon, didn’t have you down as someone who follows the rules, McCann. Careful though, floor is still wet.”

“Oh, no, you’re dead right ‘bout that, love. Just I had you down as someone who always follows the rules.” Winking at you as he walks in, commenting how different the place feels at night.

“Anyways,” he turns back to you with a hum of your name, “Sorry that I scared you, don’t want ya to think I’m being weird coming here this late or anything, I was on me way home see, passing by and I found these on the ground outside..”

He holds up a hand, key chain around his finger and a Harley Davidson key ring you immediately recognize as Toby’s.

You cut him off, telling him they’re Toby’s, that he must have dropped them after locking you in earlier, and that he’s a fucking idiot. An entertained smile curving his lips at your mini rant.

“Sorry, been a long day.”

“Yeah, Julia mentioned you’d been having bad luck or sommat, tell me about it?” A hopeful glint in his eye, and you wondered if he had ever been denied anything in his life.

Ending up making him coffee and giving him leftover banana bread while you ran him through the dramatics of your day. He, like Julia, was shocked that you had never heard of the touch wood superstition.

“Sounds like you’ve been through it, love... then I show up and make it worse, eh?” Finishing his cake and his eyes find yours again.

“Yeah, something like that,” a teasing sort of lithe, the more you talked to him the more at ease you felt around him. It’s familiar.

“Alright, alright! See how it is!” His voice raising to a squeak, you laughed.

You wouldn’t let him pay for the coffee and banana bread, saying it was on the house for saving the shop from being robbed. He only shrugs and leans against the counter beside you. “Just means I’m gonna have to buy you one back, doesn’t it.”

“Thanks for the gesture, but I do get free coffee working here, y’know,” you tell him, already hearing Julia’s words about writing people off, but he was only being nice, wasn’t he?

“Fairs, I’ll buy ya one from a different place then, good to try out the competition innit?” Arms crossing while he looks at you, and you shake your head. Your cheeks aching from the permanent smile you had since he walked in, and you knew you’d cringe about that later tonight when you replayed the scene over in your head in bed.

“Only competition round here is Starbucks, and I don’t think Julia would let you step foot in here again if you buy anything from there.”

He laughs at that, telling you he was more thinking of crappy petrol station coffee. Something you scrunch your nose in disgust at, asking him if that’s all your worth to him. Drawing another laugh.

“C’mere I’d rather take you out for a pint, but m’sparing myself from the inevitable rejection and heartbreak,” he laughs, shaking his head. Your teeth sink into your lip, picking at loose skin on your thumb nail, practically hearing Julia screaming at you in your head.

“How long are you back for?” Finding yourself asking, though you never had before. Not something you ever talked about, questioned. He gives you a look, a smirk.

“Never talk about that do we, love?” He echoes your thoughts while digging in his pocket, ridiculously tight skinny jeans, until his pulls out the green little loyalty card. 8 empty stamp grids, his first one filled by Julia today. “But I’m gonna fill one of these eventually! Toby’s bet me a fiver that I won’t until I’m 30.”

You’re half tempted to ask him why he never called, or texted, or did anything with your number on the last card. Instead your mouth curls around telling him that you’d best lock up and get home. You’re knackered. He asks how you’re getting home, telling him you’re walking, that you only live 15 minutes away while he glances outside. Orange glow of streetlamps. It’s nearing 10, autumn weather starting to creep in.

“It’s dark out.” He states the obvious.

“And?”

“Love, I ain’t letting you walk home in the dark alone! Let me walk ya,” Exclaiming, typical Van fashion. Shaking your head, knowing his intentions were good but you were stubborn.

“Who are you, me dad? I’m more than capable of getting myself home, Van.” Teasing but firm, arching a brow at him. He tells you he’ll get you an Uber then, you repeat that it’s only 15 minutes home, that you’re walking. He only stares at you for a second or two, and you can’t hold it. Thankful that he’s obviously drunk and tired, because he gives in.

“Then at least text me when ya get home, yeah?” Curling his fingers for you to give him your phone, something you’re tempted to deny. But finding it endearing that he cares so much. Handing your phone over. He messes up his number twice.

Unexpectedly, he pulls you in for a hug before he leaves. All warm skin, and you realise you wish you could stay here talking shite with him for longer. All night even.

You watch him walk over to the door. “Right, night.. you’ll be here in the morning, yeah?” He glances back.

“Bright and early.” You confirm.

“Any cinnamon buns going?”

“Maybe, if you get in early enough.”

He laughs. “Right, night then. See ya tomorrow, Glasvegas. Text me, don’t forget!” He calls while he walks out and you grab your stuff to follow him out once you set the alarm.

Watching - he pretends to walk down stairs on the other side of the window before ducking under the shutter.

Leaving you to shake your head with an amused laugh. What a fucking day.

#oh hey sometimes i write vanfics when i need to get out of my head #idk prob will add another few parts to this at some pointtt #vanfic #catb fanfic #Van McCann fanfic

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basically-i-write-shit · 5 years ago

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You know what they say about assuming

Also posted on ao3 here

Summary:"Taako looks up from his phone at the man again, and now he’s looking around the park, confused, and then he locks eyes with Taako and yeah it’s definitely Kravitz and he still doesn’t have a kid with him and-- Okay, this is embarrassing." In which Taako thinks he's talking to a hot single dad but it turns out he's talking to a hot single dog owner. How he got them mixed up is beyond him.

Taako is hanging out at Magnus’ stupid pet shop, waiting for closing time so he can get a ride to Davenport’s house for dinner, when he sees him. The most handsome man in the world. Taako isn’t ashamed when he checks him out – discretely, of course, behind sunglasses – and likes what he sees. He looks flustered, like he doesn’t know where he’s going, and so he hops up, shooing Julia away before she can help Hot Stranger.

“Hey, there, welcome to Hammer and Tails. You look a little lost, handsome, mind if I help you out?”

Handsome Stranger looks a bit startled, his eyes widening a moment, and Taako smirks as he begins to stutter. “I– I, uh– Yes, that would actually be– that would– that would be really nice– uh– th- that’s rather inappropriate of a store employee to say to a customer, don’t you think?”

“Well lucky for me then, I’m not an employee, just a regular ole’ chum,” Taako hums. “So I can’t get fired for flirting. Now, what do you need?”

“O- Okay..?” Handsome Stranger seems to get even more flustered a moment before he fixes his sleeves absently and that calms him down a bit. “I‘m just looking for some of that Beniful stuff, I think..? The vet recommended this stuff, to help with some digestive stuff…”

“Yeah, sure, bud it’s pretty easy to find just follow me,” Taako makes sure to walk in front of Handsome Stranger just enough for him to see his ass in the jeans he’s wearing but not too far so he gets lost. They get to the dog food aisle soon enough, and that’s where Taako’s knowledge ends pretty quickly because he doesn’t know where Magnus stocks what food. Thankfully Handsome Stranger sees the food and goes to inspect it. Handsome Stranger thanks him and grabs a bag, bringing it to the front of the store and checking out quickly.

“Thank you so much, come again!” Julia calls after Handsome Stranger, and he leaves. Taako sighs, leaning against the counter, and she laughs heartily. “Taako…”

“Look, Jules,” Taako stands back up, trying to seem nonchalant even though he’d literally jumped at the chance to help the stranger. “Julia. Jules. If you say a word of this to anyone, even Maggie, I’ll kill you I swear to god.”

Julia laughs brightly, tilting her hair to the side, and she nods slowly. “Yeah, yeah, of course. I’m honestly kinda surprised, though, Taako; you usually are a bit more…forward. You didn’t ask this guy on a date the second you could.”

Taako rolls his eyes. “It’s not always dick jokes and shit, I’m not always horny– okay, I’m always horny, but not everyone else is– besides, he’s a total stranger! Like, a really fuckin hot stranger, but still a stranger.”

“I could give you the name from his credit card info,” Julia doesn’t even look at Taako as she says that, smirk on her lips as she starts to lock up. Magnus’ voice booms through the now empty shop as he checks on the various animal enclosures.

Taako makes the “I’m watching you” gesture, glaring at her, and hops up on the counter while he waits.

“It’s not like I’m going to see him again, which is a damn shame, but really. This was just a nice little gift while I wait for my fucking ride.” He raises his voice a bit at the last part, hoping to make Magnus come up front a bit faster.

“Whatever you say~” Julia sing-songs. There’s a few minutes of silence before she speaks up again. “It’s Kravitz.”

Taako’s head lifts from looking at his phone. “Huh?”

“His name. It’s Kravitz.”

Taako groans, because of course now she’s invested in something that’s never going to happen with someone he’s never going to see again.

…Which is why, when he sees Hot Stran– Kravitz again, he’s kind of surprised. He and Lup are dropping off a batch of homemade dog treats for the new puppies at Hammer and Tails when he sees an oddly familiar set of locks disappear down the dog food aisle. His cheeks immediately burn bright at the suggestive waggle of Magnus’ eyebrows – of course Julia told him, the little – and he tries to subtly shake his head but by now the whole situation had caught Lup’s attention.

“…Anyone wanna tell me why Ko is as red as my acrylics right now?”

Magnus bursts out laughing at Lup’s casual question, bending over the counter and almost dropping the jar of –carefully made, and will not be replaced if they’re broken, thank you very much– dog treats he’d been given. Lup just stares, unamused, waiting for an answer.

“Koko? Wanna get this one, or am I going to have to wait for this chucklefuck to stop laughing?”

“Sorry Lup, so– sorry,” Magnus’ laugh is a little bit quieter now, and he straightens up a bit to put the jar of treats on a shelf. “That was a good one, caught me off guard. I was just teasing Taako about his crush on one of the customers in the store.”

“Oh, why don’t we just say it louder so everyone can hear? Why don’t we just use the intercom to announce it to the whole store? Sounds great to me!” Taako says, trying to say enough things that Lup’s attention shifts to that and not–

“Oh, you have a crush little brother?”

“I’m older, first of all.”

“Irrelevant. Wrong, but irrelevant. Now, tell me about this little crush?”

Taako groans. “It’s not a crush. Far from it! I helped him in the store when Magnus and Julia were busy–” Magnus coughs a cough that sounds suspiciously like “lies” and Taako glares at him. “–And while, yes, he’s rather handsome, I wouldn’t call it a crush. We barely talked enough for me to flirt, and he didn’t seem to like that much.”

“Please, ,who couldn’t resist our genetics?” Lup scoffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder, and Magnus snickers. “Why don’t you go talk to him while he shops, hm? I actually need to borrow Maggie for a minute, talk about a present for Angus’ birthday.”

“You’re finally getting him a puppy? Yes!” Magnus is already over the counter and dragging Lup to the back of the store where they keep the various pets before Taako can complain. He knows that Angus isn’t his kid, but he does have to live with the brat and if he has to also take care of that dog he’s definitely not having that and–

“E- Excuse me..? Sorry to bother you, I need to– I need to check out…”

Taako can recognize the voice without even turning around, having fantasized a bit about it in the two weeks it’s been since he last heard of it, but he turns around just to be polite anyway. He gives a confident smile, because he’s not at all flustered at the reminder of the thoughts he’s had about this stranger. Not a bit.

“Yeah, sorry stud, I’m still not a worker here. I’ll page one of the workers though, they won’t mind.” He says, strolling behind the counter and hitting the intercom button. Since there’s only one patron in the store that he can see, he’s a bit less professional than he could be as he speaks into the tiny microphone: “Hey, uh, Magnus, Julia, can one of you come up to the register please? Register.”

Taako hangs up with a shudder, remembering his brief (horrific) stunt in retail before he’d started working at Angus’ school.

Kravitz watches with amusement on his face as Taako leans against the counter, trying his best not to look too interested in him.

“So, what’s your name? Never caught it last time I saw you.”

Kravitz looks almost surprised that Taako remembers, but quickly shakes that look away to one of cool, collected. “I never threw it.”

“Hm, stole that one from Heathers. Nice.”

Kravitz plays with the hem of his shirt, embarrassed at being caught probably. Definitely that. “My name’s Kravitz. Nice to officially meet you, I suppose.”

“Right, right,” Taako nods along, pretending he didn’t already know it. He points his thumbs at himself. “’Cha boy is usually called Taako.”

“Alright…Taako…” Kravitz gives a shy smile, clearing his throat a bit. This is edging on awkward territory and Taako is almost tempted to page Magnus or Julia again when Magnus and Lup come to the front of the store. Lup has – thanfully – a small kitten in her arms, not a puppy, and Taako allows himself a small relieved sigh at that. Magnus kicks him out from behind the counter now that he’s returned and Taako obliges, instead sitting criss-cross on top of it. Kravitz has a confused look on his face as his eyes go between him and Lup, and he chuckles, mouthing the word “twins” to the other man.

Magnus is quick to check Kravitz out before leading Lup back to the back, leaving them alone again. Taako, for what it matters, decides to follow Kravitz to the parking lot.

“So you making this place homebase for the whole dog food thing, huh?”

Kravitz seems surprised that Taako’s followed him, but recovers quickly as he nods. “Yeah. I’m– Yeah. The food I have to buy is pretty expensive, but this place has it about two dollars cheaper than usual.”

“Yeah, Mag doesn’t like to upcharge. He makes most of his money on puppy training classes, anyway,” Taako looks at his nails, watching the other in his peripherals. “But I suppose it’s fate, now that I’ve helped you out here twice.”

Kravitz laughs. “I– I suppose so? It sure does sound like lady fate wants us to meet.”

“Right, right. So how about we talk about your absolute luck t have met me over coffee?”

“What about your– your sister? You two look a lot alike, it’s so crazy,”

“Well, we did carpool here, but if she spends any longer in there I’m fine with disappearing for a minute.” He shrugs. “So?”

Kravitz has a smile on his face as he nods slowly, but he looks down at his watch and cringes. “I would love to, Taako, but– but– I promised my baby girl I’d be home to take her to the park at five…”

“Oh,” Taako nods slowly. So he’s a dad? That’s a bit unexpected, but not a deal breaker. He tries to be subtle when he checks out Kravitz’s left hand, smirking a bit when he doesn’t see a ring. Hot, single divorcee? Oh he can work with this. “Your wife can’t do it?” He asks, just to make sure.

“I am not married,” Kravitz says with a laugh, seemingly knowing what Taako was hinting at. He seems a bit flustered. “I really would like to get to know you, but I try to keep her schedule pretty regular. I’m away most of the day, and if she doesn’t get to play at the park she won’t sleep.”

Taako nods, pretending like he doesn’t care even though he’s actually pretty damn disappointed. “Yeah, no problem bubula, Taako doesn’t mind. But hey, y’know, I’ve got one of those – well, it’s my sister’s but I live there to watch it – so maybe we can set up a playdate?”

“That actually– That sounds really nice, actually. Do you want to– to, uh– exchange numbers? So we can set that up?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.” Taako smiles and pulls out his phone, and they quickly give each other their numbers with the promise to text later. Taako is remiss to admit that he’s actually really flustered by this interaction; he denies to the end of suns how, after saying goodbye to Kravitz, he ran into Hammer and Tails and squealed like a little kid (but Magnus and Lup saw; they pretend they didn’t, but they saw).

So he has a potential date with a hot single dad. Alright, cool.

He supposes there are some perks to having a brat at home. Lup and Barry won’t mind if he takes the kid for a playdate, especially with how little Angus actually gets out. Besides, it’ll distract him long enough for Lup to come over to Magnus’ and grab the damn cat they’re getting Angus for his birthday and come back without the “worlds greatest detective” or whatever noticing and getting suspicious.

It isn’t until around eight o’clock after family dinner with everyone that he even remembers he gave Kravitz his number, despite how excited chill he was earlier in the afternoon. His phone buzzes while he plops onto the couch and he pulls it from his sweatpant pockets, already rolling his eyes at a meme one of the boner squad probably sent him, but his eyes immediately widen when he sees Kravitz’s name on the screen.

Checking his hair even though it’s something Kravitz can’t actually see, he unlocks his phone and opens Kravitz’s message.

[8:27 PM] FROM: Kravitz ;) Hey, Taako, it’s Kravitz. It totally occurred to me we never talked about a time or anything for our little playdate. Any preferences? I’m off during weekends if that helps.

He waits just a couple of minutes, so he doesn’t seem too excited.

[8:30 PM] TO: Kravitz ;) Nah, no preference, stud. Down for maybe Saturday afternoon?

Maybe Krazitz does the same back to him, which is fucking stupid and lame, because it takes five whole agonizing minutes to reply.

[8:35 PM] FROM: Kravitz ;) Sounds good! 1:30 good? There’s that dog park near Hammer and Tails that’s really nice.

Taako finds it pretty weird that he wants their kids to meet at a dog park but hey he won’t judge. Maybe he’s bringing the dog too. Not the most fun for kids, but then again Taako doesn’t know much about kids anyway.

[8:35 PM] TO: Kravitz ;) 1:30 is perfect there’s no way I’m getting up before noon on my days off lmao

[8:36 PM] FROM: Kravitz ;) Lol. Sounds great. I forgot to ask what age your sisters’ is, but mine’s 6

[8:37 PM] TO: Kravitz ;) Aw shit really? He’s like 10 now I think, beats me

[8:37 PM] TO: Kravitz ;) It’s probably alright though he doesn’t even know how to play much anyway he can get a lesson from your kiddo

[8:39 PM] FROM: Kravitz ;) It’s good to socialize her anyway, doesn’t matter what age.

They talk a bit more about nonsense (mostly Taako flirting) before Taako goes off to bed, grinning ear to ear.

The day of the playdate comes much too fast, and Taako almost forgot to inform Lup and Barry of his plans. Which would have been bad. Put him out a kid, and then the whole playdate is ruined. He doesn’t know much about the brat Kravitz is bringing, only that she’s six and her name is Raven. He doesn’t know if he should pack anything – a snack, a leash, some toys – but Lup, bless Lup, already has a small backpack with a couple of Angus’ favorite books and some outdoor toys with the promise of these will be fine, they’ll just run around the park, don’t worry. So he takes Lup’s car and drives across town to the park they’d agreed on and waits.

The park is empty save for one man and his dog, a pretty big Doberman that runs around the place with ease. Taako almost thinks it’s Kravitz, because he wears a similar hairstyle, but he shrugs it off because there’s no other kid at the park. So he sits and waits in the car, Angus already reading a book in the back seat. He waits about ten minutes before he thinks he’s been stood up, and he’s about to put the car back in drive when his phone buzzes.

[1:36 PM] FROM: Kravitz ;) Hey I’m at the dog park where are you?”

Huh. Taako looks around, and there’s still just that one man, looking impeccably dressed for just a stroll at the park. He frowns.

[1:37 PM] TO: Kravitz ;) No, I’m at the park and you aren’t. There’s no one else here.

Taako looks up from his phone at the man again, and now he’s looking around the park, confused, and then he locks eyes with Taako and yeah it’s definitely Kravitz and he still doesn’t have a kid with him and–

Okay, this is embarrassing.

Taako would like to blame this on lack of communication, not how utterly stupid he was for thinking the guy at the pet store buying pet food wasn’t talking about his pet.

Kravitz walks over, smiling, and waves a bit. Taako slides out of the car, not even bothering to unlock the car since Angus is old enough to figure out how to do it himself, and gives a sheepish wave as the Doberman follows Kravitz over to the edge of the fence near the parking lot.

“Hey, uh, so this is going to sound real stupid, but uh…”

Angus hops out of the car, looking upset that he wasn’t let out of the car, and Kravitz looks at Angus. Then at Taako. Then at Raven (the dog! Oh how stupid!). Then at Taako again.

And he fucking laughs.

It’s not a full-bodied, uncontrollable laughter, but a light, teasing chuckle that sends Taako’s entire heart out of his chest and his turns his cheeks ruby red. “Taako,” Karvitz lilts, and it’s almost too embarrassing, Taako almost just gets back in the car and drives off. “Taako, did you think– Did you think we were– oh, man, did you think we were having a playdate with children?”

“…Maybe. But this is totally your fault.” Taako says. He crosses his arms over his chest. “Who calls their dogs their baby girl? Huh? That’s so fuckin’ weird, you can’t blame me for this one!”

“I– When you said ‘oh I have one of those’ I assumed you meant dog, seeing as that’s what I was talking about. I thought I made It very clear that we were talking about dogs.”

“Nuh-uh, bubula, you never said the word dog once while we were talking!”

“We met at a pet shop, Taako.” Kravitz says, exhasperated, and this is all really just too funny. Angus is looking between them, confused, and clutching his book to his chest.

“Taako? I thought I was going on a playdate,” He says, peeping into the conversation, and Taako groans.

“Not now, Ango, I’m pretty busy trying not to die from how mortified I am right now,” He says, ever the dramatic. Angus just lets out a quiet “o- okay?..” before heading over to a bench and sitting down. The Doberman happily follows and Kravitz tries to scold her but she hops up onto the bench and plops down right in Angus’ lap, but the kid doesn’t seem to mind.

“So, uh–”

“Please, let’s never mention this again.” Taako says miserably, head in his hands. “I’ll never live this one down if any of my asshole family hears about it.”

Kravitz smiles. “I suppose I can do that. On one condition, though,”

“Anything to never have to remember this ever again.”

“I’d like a real date, if you wouldn’t mind. Maybe without the kid or the dog this time.”

Taako’s head whips up so fast he almost gives himself whiplash. “Wh– I– Really?”

“I would very much like it, uh…You really are someone I’d like to get to know better…” Kravitz looks embarrassed as he talks, his cheeks warm. Taako just looks at him, eyes full of amazement.

“Y’know, after that little blunder I just had, I probably would refuse to even think about you again. But I’d actually kinda like that.”

“Really? Great! I mean– great that you want to go on another date. This one’s, uh– I mean, we can make it a great date? We still have daylight to kill, and it looks like Raven and Angus get along pretty well…”

Kravitz offers a hand, and Taako takes it, laughing.

“You’re not very good with words, are you, Krav?”

The afternoon isn’t too bad after that minor ssue is resolved, and Taako is pretty happy by the end of it. He takes Angus out for ice cream after to get him to keep quiet about the whole ‘doggy playdate’ thing, and that’s the end of that. Right?

“Mom, dad! Taako took me on a playdate with a dog!“ .

“Angus you little traitor–!”

“You did what?!”

“I’m gonna kill you, little man!”

…He really should stop assuming things.

#taz: balance #the adventure zone #taakitz #the adventure zone: balance #taako taaco #kravitz adventurezone #taako the wizard #angus mcdonald #lup taaco #lup adventurezone #magnus burnsides #julia burnsides #blupjeans #angus is blupjeans' kid #taz fanfiction

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kookie-the-bunny · 7 years ago

Text

85 truths thingie

I was tagged by @mac-and-cheeseburgerqueen ❤️❤️❤️thanks for that

I‘m tagging; @one-more-bias @changbinlovesfreckles @vnothernightonmvrs @idunknowhyimhere @peachweasley @peachnyeonghoe @angeljhobi @quesokeikeu @kim-sxxkjxn @thewordbedlookslikeabed

Last ...

1. drink - Cappuccino, 2. phone call - my dad, 3. text message - in a Group Chat with my best friends: „yes“ (lel boring), 4. Song you listened to - Dean - I love it (like literally I love that song it is amazing you should check it out), 5. time you cried - some weeks ago because of a friend of mine

Ever ...

6. dated someone twice- lmfao I didn’t date anyone yet (forever alone I will die with 7 cats I already know that), 7. kissed someone and regretted it - never kissed someone (like I said forever alone), 8. been cheated one - nope, 9. lost someone special- nope not yet, 10. been depressed - yes some time ago, 11. gotten drunk and thrown up - gotten drunk yes thrown up nope not yet and I hope it won’t happen

Fave colors

12. Black, 13. White, 14. pastel colors

In the last year have you ...

15. made new friends - yes I went to a different school and met some there, 16. fallen out of love - no but I fell in love (looking at all of my biases), 17. laughed until you cried - yes a lot of times, 18. found out someone was talking about you - probably I‘m a bitch sometimes (I didn‘t found it out tho), 19. met someone who changed you - no, 20. found out who your true friends are - well yes but I already knew it, 21. kissed someone on your Facebook friends list - haven‘t kissed someone and I don‘t have fb

General

22. how many of you Facebook friends do you know irl - I don‘t have it, 23. do you have any pets - a cat, 24. do you want to change your name - no it‘s alright, 25. what did you do for your last birthday - I celebrated it with my two best friends, 26. what time did you wake up today - around 10 am, 27. what were you doing at midnight last night - I slept I was so tired yesterday, 28. what is something you can‘t wait for - summer break, 29. what are you listening to right now - stray kids - hellevator, 30. have you ever talked to a person named Tom - yes a lot of times - a boy from a class that I was in was called that, 31. something that is getting on your nerves - that we have to read two books for German. The first one is the book in general (Nathan der Waise) and the second one is to understand the book ( why do you need a book to understand another book. That already tells me that I don‘t want to read the book), 32. most visited website - tumblr, 33. hair color - dark blond, 34. long or short hair - rn kinda short but I want to grow it long again, 35. do you have a crush on someone - yes a boy that goes in one of my classes, 36. what do you like about yourself - idk my eyes???????, 37. want any piercings - yes I want one on my nose, 38. blood type - idk, 39. nicknames - Julschik, Jules, Juliett ( my name is Julia btw), 40. relationship status - living with 7 cats in the future, 41. zodiac - Capricorn, 42. pronouns - she/her, 43. fave tv show - rn I really like Van Helsing, 44. tattoos - I don‘t have any yet but I want to get some soon, 45. right or left handed - right, 46. ever had surgery - well my toe nail grew into my skin once and then was cut out of it idk if you y’all that surgery, 47. sport - I really like volleyball and basketball, 48. vacation - o god here we go France, Danmark, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Italy, I think that was it, 49. trainers - A LOT

More general

50. eating - nothing rn, 51. drinking - nothing, 52. I‘m about to watch - nothing (me writing this on my phone?!?!?!), 53. waiting for - Idk a change in my life?? Girlfriend??? Boyfriend???? Love of my life?????? Food???, 54. want - nothing rn, 55. get married - someday hopefully with someone a love with much luck, 56. career- IDK YET AHHHHHHHH

Which is better ...

57. Hugs or kisses - I have never kissed someone but I think kisses but like hugging while kissing is probably really good too but just hugging is good too, 58. lips or eyes - eyes, 59. shorter or taller - taller, 60. older or younger - I‘m more for older but younger is alright too I guess, 61. nice arms or stomach - idk stomach I guess, 62. hookup or relationship- relationship, 63. troublemaker or hesitant - idk why do I always have a crush on the troublemakers ???!?!!?!!?!!!?!!!!!!

Have you ever ...

64. kisses a stranger - no, 65. drank hard liquor - yes, 66. lost glasses - nope, 67. turned someone down - no, 68. sex on first date - no, broken someone‘s heart - I hope not, 69. had your heart broken - not really, 70. been arrested - nope, 71. cried when someone died - Jonghyun but not somebody else no one died in my life. When I was a kid that was when somebody died but I didn‘t really get it there, 72. fallen for a friend - yes but we aren‘t really friends anymore we only see eachother sometimes at parties

Do you believe in ...

73. yourself - well kinda I hope think IDK, 74. miracles - nope not really, 75. love at first sight - no maybe crush at first sight but not love, 76. Santa Claus - lmfao no, 77. Kiss on a first date - well if it was a good one then yes (never been on a date like I said forever alone), 78. angels - maybe (looking at you Hobi)

Other

79. best friend‘s name - Jessica and Vanessa, 80. eye color - blue, 81. fave movie - idk I don‘t watch that many I really like maze runners I‘m more into series, 82. fave actor - don‘t have one

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