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sehyunie23 · 11 months ago

Text

|Summer Fic|

Nothing's Gonna

Change My Love For

You - Aespa Karina

Y/n POV

"Mun, how many orders do we have for tomorrow?" I asked my assistant.

"Based on our calendar, we have..." Mun looked at our records while I compute our profits for this week.

"We have 10 orders for this week," Mun said as he looked at me.

"10? That's quite a lot," I chuckled as I put the financial papers away.

"You accepted it, not me," Mun said as he raised his hands.

"Oh get out you smarty pants!" I said as Mun just giggled and went out of his spot, probably going to get some good food because it's already lunchtime.

I stretched from my seat and closed my computer, then gonna go outside to breathe some fresh air.

Grabbing my coat, I left my office and went on my way to the building's exit, also greeting some of my employees along the way.

Going out, the bustling sounds of the busy city hit me. Cars honking, the clacks of the people's shoes, music blaring from afar. If you are not in a great mood, you will be irritated from where I am standing.

I then walked some steps and arrived at my cafe slash restaurant where some of my creativity and love for food is poured in.

Entering what is like my second home, I see many customers eating and enjoying the ambiance of my cafe which puts a smile on my face. I then went to the kitchen where the pastries and some savory food were already plated, ready to be served to our customers.

"Y/n! Nice to see you again. Your good is gaining popularity huh?" Jun, one of my managers went up to me as he picked up a tray full of food.

"Tell me about it. And pasta?" I asked as I saw his tray, plates full of pasta.

"Well, you know. You going for that European vibes has it's perks," Jun said which made us both giggle.

"Uh... Can anyone speak English or French? I have a customer right now but I don't speak both languages," Mihyun said as she opened the door to the kitchen and pouted.

"Mihyun, didn't I tell you to study English?" I raised an eyebrow at the girl.

"Oppa~," Mihyun then whined and stomped her feet.

We all laughed at her but I went to the counter with her following in tail. Seeing the customer, I put up my smile and greeted him.

"Bonjour! Bienvenue dans notre café. Qu'aimerais-tu commander?" (Good morning! Welcome to our cafe. What would you like to order?) I said and the customer smiled and proceeded to tell his order.

Punching the items on the computer, Mihyun is watching intensely beside me, eager to be better at her job and that's a good thing.

"Je vais donc répéter votre commande. deux croissants, trois macarons et deux chocolats chauds?" (So I will repeat your order. two croissants, three macaroons, and two hot chocolates?) I said and the man happily nodded.

"Oui, merci beaucoup," The man said and I entered his order into our system.

"Vous souhaitez payer en espèces ou par carte?" (Do you want to pay by cash or card?) I asked and looked at the man.

"Je paierai par carte s'il vous plaît," (I will pay by card please) The customer said and took the payment for his order and then he gave his name and voila, the transaction was finished.

"Wah~ you sound so sexy speaking French oppa!" Mihyun said and squealed making me laugh at her silliness.

"Oh you little pumpkin," I said and ruffled her hair, making her laugh.

Giggling as well, I then looked at the operation of my business, and from what I saw, it was doing well. I hope that it continues for a long time.

_______________

Karina POV

"Good job for today girls, your promotions end today, and give yourself a clap. Congratulations!" Our manager said and the staff clapped, congratulating us, making me and my group mates thank them.

"Thank you all! We couldn't do this without all of you!" I said and bowed in front of them.

And from there, we celebrated with our staff. Ningning being the youngest, leads the crazy things or dances as she just wants to party.

I still keep a stance, being a leader means responsibility. Looking out for my members, our manager went to me, whispering something.

"Hey, you guys up for dinner after this?" She asked.

"Eun unnie, when did we refuse food?" I asked making her chuckle.

"Okay, I know a place," Unnie said.

"We gonna eat somewhere delicious?!" Minjeong suddenly appeared at my back, asking her question.

"Woah, chill out. Yeah, I know a place," Unnie repeated.

"Oh! Is it the place where you brought the delicious croissants?" Minjeong asked and unnie smiled.

"Yep! Nice memory," Unnie answered.

"Hah! You know me unnie~," Minjeong said as she flicked her hair.

"Show off," I said and Minjeong just glared at me, making me giggle.

"Anyways, I know the owner. I will take a call now," Unnie said.

"Wait! Food!" Ningning suddenly latched herself to unnie.

"Aigoo you baby. Karina!" Unnie squealed as Ningning was piggybacking on Manager unnie.

I laughed at the sight with Minjeong, Aeri arrived here as well, joining in the laughter. Several minutes passed, and I was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through my Instagram until my eyes saw a croissant and an eclair.

Looking at the pastries makes me hungry, I thought that this couldn't be. I need to make someone hungry as well.

I looked to my side and saw Aeri, I smirked and was about to do my plan until she sush me.

"I know what you are going to do Jimin, no," Aeri said which made me pout.

Aeri then looked at me with a smirk on her face, making me scoff.

"Hah! You can't do that to me Jimin. Also, I know Y/n," Aeri said.

"Y/n?" I asked, confused.

"Oh, he's the owner of the restaurant where we will go later," Aeri answered.

"Aha! I love his pastries! Let's go!" I squealed in delight.

"Maybe you will love him more," Aeri smirked.

"Aigoo you flirt, come!" I said, picking up my jacket.

"Girls! Let's go!" Eun unnie said to us and we followed her to the van.

________________

Y/n POV

"Yah! You little shit! Come back here!" Mun said as Mihyun decided to play a prank on him.

"Oppa~ do you love chocolats?~ Because I always see you in pain," Mihyun burst into laughter while I stifled mine, especially on that little pun Mihyun just said.

At this point in time, the store is usually closed but Eun noona, one of my closest friends called me for a reservation and I just accepted it. Of course, I couldn't do it myself so I asked some of my staff on who wanted to do overtime and luckily, Mihyun and Mun agreed.

"That pun was so bad. Pain au Chocolat?" I chuckled and Mihyun just giggled.

"Come on Y/n. That's not you to laugh at a joke like that," Mun said while wiping himself clean from the flour.

"Wah~ It's good to give exceptions sometimes," I said, calming down from my laughter.

"Not you too," Mun groaned, but a sight for Mihyun who was on the ground, laughing like it was her last day.

"Y-you! HAHAHA!" Mihyun wheezing on the floor and I just let them be.

Suddenly, I heard the door to my restaurant open. Looking at my two co-workers for the night, I giggled at them before leaving the kitchen and opening the front door for my last customers.

Walking to the entrance, I saw a group of girls waiting, with being the first one, of course

"Eun! WHAAAA!" I said as I opened the door.

"YAH!!!! Y/N YOU LITTLE!" Eun jumped and ruffled my hair.

"Ow! Yah! Aish," I said, preventing Eun to pull all of my hair.

"Y/n oppa! I want a croissant," Aeri said.

"Really?" I said a little bit annoyed as Aeri just giggled at me.

"Aiyoo, we want food! Hurry hurry!" Eun said and released my head, then she smacked my butt.

"I wish I just closed my shop," I said and sighed. Just then, the other girls just chuckled at us.

"Oh! Hello everyone! I'm Y/n, the owner of this humble shop. Also, Eun and Aeri, my loyal customers already know me as you saw earlier," I said, glaring at the two girls and they just looked at me innocently.

"Anyways, Welcome!" I said and bowed to them. The other girls clapped at me, making me smile.

"Hello! We are Aespa!" The four girls introduced their selves.

"I'm Karina, leader of the group. The one beside me is Minjeong, next to Aeri is Ningning, and you know. Aeri herself," A girl named Karina spoke, introducing her members.

"Well, nice to meet you all! I hope you enjoy our dinner menu and from what I heard from Eun, you all like my pastries, and with that, I'm very thankful," I said with a sincere smile.

Just then, Mihyun went out of the kitchen with menus in her arms and walked towards us.

"Bonsoir! Welcome to our cafe! Let's get you seated!" Mihyun greeted them cheerfully.

__________________

Karina POV

"I want an eclair!" Ningning said.

"Can I have a gelato?" Minjeong asked.

"We only have Oreo, Choco Fudge, and Coffee," the girl named Mihyun said.

"Can I have a combination of Choco Fudge and Coffee?" Minjeong asked.

"Absolutely," Mihyun answered.

"I will do that please, thank you," Minjeong said with a smile.

"Okay~, for your Aeri?" Mihyun asked.

"Hit me up with a coffee gelato," Aeri said and Mihyun wrote it down, then she looked at me.

"And what will be your dessert Karina-ssi?" Mihyun asked.

"Do you have choices?" I asked.

"I can guide you to our cafe if you want," Mihyun suggested to me.

"Please," I said with a smile. Mihyun retorted about the actions and told me to follow her.

Not far from our table, I saw Y/n with another behind the counter full of beautiful-looking pastries.

"Mun! One Choco Fudge with Coffee gelato and one coffee gelato. Also, one eclair," Mihyun said to the man beside Y/n.

"On it!" Mun said as he scooped the gelato.

"Karina-ssi, you can pick whatever you want," Y/n said making me smile at him.

I walked closer to the counter where the pastries were displayed and there, my eyes wandered from every bread. Having a hard time picking, a pair of eyes then met mine and I just felt something.

Not strange, not weird. Just something I can't explain for the moment.

"Having a hard time picking?" Y/n said from behind the counter.

"Yeah, they all look nice, to be honest," I said with a smile.

I mean, seeing them displayed is just like going to an art museum.

"Thanks! That meant a lot to me," Y/n said.

"Say, mind recommending me one?" I asked, now looking at Y/n.

"Well, I do have one. It's my favorite" Y/n said and stood up, making me follow his actions.

"Really? What is it?" I said, intrigued.

"Well, here!" Y/n said and picked up a tray of beautifully made pastries.

"Woah~," the cake just made me look in awe at how gorgeous it is.

"Three Chocolate Plaisir. Layers after layers, with each layer offering different textures," Y/n smiled as he gave me two pieces.

"I will trust you on this," I said while giggling.

"I promise you that you won't regret it," Y/n said confidently.

"I would hold on to that. Thanks Y/n!" I said.

"No problem Karina-ssi. Have a nice dinner," Y/n said and I nodded with a smile. I then picked up the plate and went back to our table and just as I was about to sit, the girls were very jealous of my dessert, making me laugh at them.

_________________

Y/n POV

"Wha~ I saw Aespa!" Mihyun began to daydream while wiping the plates.

"Yet they don't know you. HAH!" Mun said to counter Mihyun.

"Shut up~, Minjeong gave me an autograph," Mihyun said as she looked at Mun, totally annoyed.

"WHY ARE YOU SO LUCKY!" Mun shouted.

"Now now, calm down Mun. Now that we are finished here. Care to close the shop for me?" I asked Mun gently.

"Okay, but!" Mun started and looked at me.

"But what?" I ask.

"I want Aespa's autograph," Mun said but I smacked his head before he could mutter another word.

"But, but!" Mun tried to reason.

"Go to their fan meeting. Tell me and I will buy you a ticket," I said and Mun immediately nodded.

"Okay! Go now and I will close the store happily!" Mun said, now humming. A complete turnaround from his attitude earlier.

"He's a certified my," Mihyun said.

"Tell me about it," I giggled.

I then picked up a bag containing of many ready-to-bake pastries for the Aespa girls and Eun, giving it to them as a token of appreciation.

Going out of the kitchen, I went to their table where I saw them getting ready to leave.

"Wait! I want to give these to you all," I said and gave them the bags.

"Oh? What's this Y/n?" Eun asked.

"It's our ready-to-bake item. Take it as a gift," I said with a smile.

"Strawberry croissant?! Yes! Thank you! I will eat this well!" Ningning exclaimed, making me release a chuckle.

"Oh no. It's nothing," I said while waving my hands.

"Oh! Speaking of baking. Jimin? You will ask a question right?" Eun said as she pushed Karina a bit, making me look at the latter.

"U-uh. I-I love yo- WHA! I mean I love bread!" Karina said, a little startled, making me look at her weirdly with a giggle.

Suddenly, the other girls just began coughing. Ningning then smacked the table hard, looking away from me.

I then looked at Karina, fiddling with her fingers, holding the pack of ready-to-bake bread.

"I guess you want to learn how to bake Karina-ssi?" I asked and the girl's eyes widened, making me smile.

"You can call me, or even tell Eun for for the time. Whenever you are free, just ring me up," I said and Karina smiled and nodded shyly.

"Okay. Now that all is finished, here's our payment Y/n," Eun said as she showed me their company card.

"Okay~," I said and took the card for their payment.

________________

Karina POV

It's been days since we ate in Y/n' oppa's restaurant and it's also been days since my members teased me using Y/n.

"Step to the left but put more energy on the arms when you swing it, okay?" Our instructor said.

"Ne!" We all answered and the instructor said her goodbye and Eun unnie went in front of us.

"Okay everyone~. Aeri, Minjeong, and Ning, you are finished for today~," Eun unnie said which made me confused.

"Wait? I still have on my schedule?!" I whined at unnie.

"At this hour?! She still have-", Aeri is starting to be angry until,

"Y/n. This is your freest time for the next two weeks so why not now?" Eun said as Aeri's anger turned into a smirk.

"Yah yah yah! Shut up Aeri!" I said while glaring at her.

"I'm not saying anything~," Aeri teasingly said.

I looked away from them clearing my throat. Now what happened to me? I was so tired until Eun unnie said where I was going.

"Unnie, bring me a delicious croissant okay? Thank you!" Minjeong said as she ran outside our practice room.

"Yeah unnie! Bring me home- I mean! Bring something delicious! Minjeong! Wait for me!" Ningning followed suit as Aeri walked out slowly, giving me funny faces, and making me glare at her.

"Okay, now come on. Let's go to him," Okay?" Eun unnie said

"Yeah, let's go," I wore a hoodie and went outside of the company with Eun unnie.

I saw our van and was about to go in until Eun unnie tapped me, pointing at another car.

"Eh?" I muttered.

"Y/n will teach you. He is also responsible for you now," Just as Eun unnie said that, the car behind our van flashes its light grabbing my attention.

I looked at unnie at first, a little bit uneasy but Eun unnie just nodded with a smile on her face.

Slowly walking to the car behind, I was about to knock on the window until it rolled down, revealing Y/n.

"Service for Ms. Yoo Jimin?" Y/n said with a tease, making me smile.

"Maybe this is not so bad after all. Great job Jimin," I said in my thoughts.

Smiling at my thoughts, I went inside his car and fastened my seatbelt.

"So, croissants?" I asked and looked at Y/n.

"Croissants. Okay!" Y/n said with a smile then we were on our way.

_______________

Y/n POV

"Now fold the dough again," I said.

"Again?! But we folded it earlier?" Karina whined.

"The more, the better Karina-ssi" I teasingly said.

"But my hands!" Karina whined cutely, making me giggle.

"Then, should I help you?" I asked. Then Karina looked at me with the cutest puppy eyes that I have ever seen.

"Please~," Karina said with a pout. Now, Karina is just displaying her real beauty.

"Okay, now move as-,"

"No," Karina cut me off.

"No?" I asked.

"No. Guide me," Karina said and turned her back to me, making me giggle.

"You are awfully comfortable with me now huh?" I teased.

"Oh shut it. Let's go make a croissant!" Karina said angrily, but to me, she looked like a puppy, making my smile wider.

I then went behind Karina then slowly, I put my hands above hers, guiding her the right way to make my best selling croissants.

But while my body is helping her to do the pastries, my mind is overjoyed and giddy.

I have many friends that are girls but Karina, the way she trusts me even though we don't know each other very well, she trusts me.

Now, I may be overthinking at this but when a girl trusts you, it's a good thing, very good thing, especially when you are a boy.

The way our hands touched each other, ignited a spark that may be merely just a small thing, but that small thing affected me in just seconds.

Thinking for a bit, we do look like a couple. A couple that is on the brink of marriage, wait what?

Shrugging at my thoughts, I then heard Karina laughing like a kid playing with its toys.

I see Karina folding and rolling the dough over and over again. At one point I even released my hand for her to move freely and she just looked at me proudly at her work.

"You're a natural Karina-ssi," I said.

"Call me Jimin. I would like that even more," Karina or I mean, Jimin said, making me look at her.

"Oh? You know I'm flattered that you will let me call you by your name," I said.

"Well, I'm an outgoing girl and by what I feel, I'm comfortable with you," Jimin bluntly said.

"You are such a straightforward girl," I laughed making Jimin giggle as well.

"Knowing Yoo Jimin 101!" Jimin said excitedly.

"Okay okay, let's cut it to portions now or Eun will kill me," I said, Jimin then laughed and nodded.

_______________

Y/n POV

"Delivery for Incheon, Daegu, Anyang, and Seongnam for this week?" I asked Mun.

"Seongnam and Anyang deliveries are already finished. Incheon and Daegu are the places that have big orders," Mun said as he placed the equities and expenses on my table.

"D'accord. Anything else for today?" I asked.

"Well, Mihyun did deliver the croissants you and your girlfr- I mean Karina," Mun said and I threw a crumpled paper to his face.

"Aigoo. There you are again," I said a little bit annoyed.

*bzzt bzzt*

"Would you look at that, your phone vibrates. Come, let's take a bet. If that's Karina, I will work for you for free next week," Mun said.

"And if this is not Karina, I will put you and Mihyun on a date," I said and Mun coughed, making me giggle.

For now, it's the moment of truth. I opened my phone and its...

" Jiminie🐨

Oppa! We received the croissants we made! They are so delicious, we made them well. The mixture of the dough is perfect..... like us. Anyways, have a great day! Thanks to Mihyun-ssi as well! ♡♡♡ "

My eyes widened and Mun took a peek as well but the smirk on his face was bigger than ever.

"Well well well~ who do we have here? Oh! Jiminie~ perfect like us," Mun teasingly said, squealing at the same time.

"Wha. I mean, what did I do for her to tease me like this?" I asked, blushing because of Jimin's words.

"I'm gonna talk to Eun about this," I said.

"Hah! Yeah right. I bet you like it," Mun said as he left me alone in my office.

"I didn't like. I love it," I whispered, smiling, and my heart is like happily dancing on its own.

"You are something Jimin,"

I chuckled at my thoughts and looked at my computer. Nah, I think I have something better to do.

I stood up, grabbed my coat, and left my office in a hurry, but carefully.

__________________

Karina POV

"This unnie. Why is she initiating the moves?" Minjeong asked.

"Because this dumb girl didn't give her number to his man," Aeri answered.

"Oh well. Whatever you say, I say that croissants are the best!" Ningning said while munching on her second bread.

"Aish. Let your leader be, girls. What Karina wants, Karina gets," Eun unnie said.

"I'm pretty sure Y/n oppa would fall in love when a girl messaged him that they are perfect," Ningning said.

"And that's my plan," I smirked.

"Aiyoo, you will be the death of me Karina," Eun unnie said which made me giggle.

"But you know, I heard from the higher-ups, they want to put you in a dating rumor with Taeyong," Aeri whispered.

"What?!" I exclaimed then looked at unnie.

"I will stop that, whatever it takes Karina, with all my power," Eun unnie assured me and placed her arm on my shoulders.

"Okay. I know you always protect us unnie," I said with a gentle smile and held Eun unnie's hand.

"Yep! If that did happen. I will kill the management," Eun unnie joked, making us laugh.

_________________

Y/n POV

"Our revenue is up by 10%!" Mun said excitedly.

"Really? Seongnam really is a game-changer huh?" I said and Mun nodded happily.

"Who suggested Seongnam?" I asked.

"IT WAS ME!!!" Mihyun barged into our office, holding two coffees.

"Aish. Yah! Don't need to do that. Aigoo," I said, a little startled at how she entered my office.

"Hehehe~, Seongnam for the win! That's my hometown!" Mihyun danced joyfully. I then looked at Mun looking at Mihyun with hearts shooting from his eyes.

Looking at the sight, I think I will plan their date earlier than my planned day.

Chuckling at the future couple, I then looked at my computer and saw an article from Dispatch.

________________

Karina POV

"Aish ssibal. Are they real for now?!" Eun unnie slammed the pile of papers on our floor.

"The NCT members don't know this either. They are beyond confused right now," Aeri said.

"But why in the hell Dispatch?" I asked, curling into a ball.

"Don't worry unnie, I'm here," Minjeong came beside me.

I smiled at the girl and hugged her tightly like a teddy bear.

"Yep! Me too!" Ningning also went to my left, hugging me, and showing her support.

I smiled at our maknaes as they can be a child at heart but when times like this appear, they are probably the most reliable person on earth.

"Something that will never change about businessmen is their love for money," Aeri clicked her tongue.

"Now that's just bad. Exclude me Aeri," A voice coming from a man said.

We all looked at the man and saw Y/n holding a bag. My eyes widened and hid myself behind Minjeong.

"Y/n! Thank you for this, really," Eun unnie sighed and took the bag from Y/n oppa.

"Seems something is up," Y/n oppa asked as he looked at us.

"O, the higher-ups want to stir the cash flow of this company," Eun unnie sighed.

"By using their idols in such a way? By the way, do Karina also-," Y/n oppa asked.

"Andwae! I love you Y/n oppa! You make my heart beat irregularly, you make me go crazy for you. We just met once, bonded once, croissants! But I feel something special when I'm with you! My happiness, pastry chef! My l-," I said in the heat of the moment but my brain not working as well.

I then regained my senses and looked at the people here with me in the practice room. My eyes widen, thinking about what I just said.

I see the maknaes smirking, Aeri humming, and Eun unnie pointing at the ceiling like it was something amusing.

Sighing at what I did, I faced the wall, ashamed. Before my forehead could touch the wall, I was grabbed by someone making me face him, hugging me tightly.

"Don't worry Jimin. Nothing's gonna change my love for you, whatever the rumors, whatever the problems," Y/n oppa started, making me look up at him.

Ningning and Minjeong squealed like little kids because of how high-pitched it was, Aeri who was surprised enjoyed the drama unfolding in front of her.

"I gotta admit Jimin, you stole my feelings from our first meeting. I don't believe in love at first sight but gosh Karina, you are something special. Just like what you said, the mixture of the dough is perfect, just like us," Y/n oppa said with a smile and then kissed my forehead making me gasp.

"Omo omo omo, what's this?! This is such a fast turn of events," Aeri exclaimed.

"Nope. Let's get out of here. Croissants! Come on Aeri unnie," Ningning said and dragged the older girl with her. Minjeong and Eun unnie went out while giggling, giving me a wink before closing the door.

Silence then followed suit and my look at Y/n oppa strengthened.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Y/n oppa giggled as he caressed my hair.

"Wae? Yah! Why are you laughing huh?!" I said while smacking his chest but Y/n oppa just hugged me tighter, laughing.

________________

Y/n POV

"You know I'm gonna ask for you to have another lesson with me," I said, teasing the girl beside me.

"AWH! Please stop! Don't tease me!" Jimin said, hiding her hot pink face from me.

Looking at Jimin in this state is so funny, who knew that behind the cold gaze on her face is a warm and loving girl.

"Aww~ is this the same Jimin that messaged me th-," Jimin puts a finger on my lips.

"Shhh! Okay! I'm that girl, please don't tease me~," Jimin nuzzles her head in my arms, making me smile

Right now, we are in the living room of their dorm. The other girls are in the kitchen, again, respecting our privacy I think.

"I mean, I'm gonna confess too but not this early. You really know how to mess up a plan someti-OW!" I said but received an elbow from Jimin.

"I bet you are not, you are a wimp! Hmph!" Jimin said, sulking.

"Oho~, showing me this side of yours already?" I teased, poking her arm.

"Yah! How many times do I tell you to HMMM!" Jimin was talking until I cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the lips.

A good 10 seconds passed and I decided to cut the kiss. Looking at Karina whose eyes are shut while puckering her lips, I giggled at her and connected our lips again.

Loving someone who you barely knew must be risky, but sometimes risks bring in the grand of rewards.

________________

Y/n POV

"What's our delivery for this week?" I asked.

"We have Busan, Incheon, and Daegu as our big bundle. Seongnam, Anyang, and Jeju for our regular," Mihyun said, looking at me.

"How about our SM branch?" I asked.

"Oh, well it's good. Many artists, staff, and even the admins love your food," Mihyun said happily.

"I know that I can always trust you Mihyun," I said with a smile.

"Merci, je ne pourrais pas le faire sans votre aide," (Thank you, I couldn't do it without your help) Mihyun bowed but what surprised me was that she spoke fluent French.

"Woah! Where did that come from?!" I excitingly.

"I just study~, I told you that I work hard," Mihyun said and flicked her hair, making me giggle.

"Babe! Let's go. Our boss is still single," Mun said and held Mihyun's hand.

"Aish, you brat. Don't look down on me," I said.

"Y/nnie~, I need my hugs and kisses!" Jimin barged into my office and ran straight to me.

Mihyun chuckled while I smirked at Mun who was looking somewhere else.

"Ah! I will be going. Goodbye Y/n, Karina-ssi," Mihyun bowed.

"Aww. Goodbye unnie! Have a great day!" Jimin said to Mihyun.

"Bye~! Great job!" I said and Mihyun bowed, then walked to the door. Being the mischievous girl she is, she smacked Mun's butt.

"YAWWW!" Mun exclaimed and Mihyun just walked out like nothing happened.

"YOU! COME BACK HERE!" Mun said and ran out of my office.

Two years since we met each other personally, Jimin and my relationship didn't waver, instead, it just kept getting better and better.

Karina's dating rumor didn't work for creating good revenue for SM, their stocks even plummeted. That's where I come in, I purchased a minority from SM, and safe to say that Aespa really liked that move.

Running a business is hard, no doubt, but when you have a woman who supports you in everything like this cutie little Jiminie right here. Fatigue will not even exist in your vocabulary.

"How are you babe?" I asked as Karina was sitting on my lap.

"Fine, just came from our practice," Jimin said as she wiggled, making herself comfortable.

"Anything I can do?" I asked and immediately, Jimin faced me with a smirk on her face.

Jimin pushed the lock button on my table and made the window not transparent from the outside.

"Maybe, we can do something spicy," Jimin said while biting her lip, her seductive voice. It's so alluring.

The next thing that I know, one of us is fighting for dominan- You know what, I will stop here.

But Jimin will sometimes be moody and I can't do anything about it. So I promised since the day she gave her trust to me.

I promise that I'll be there for her if she should need me. Jimin, you don't have to change a thing because I love you just the way you are jagiya.

"The world may change my whole life through, but nothing's gonna change my love for you Jimin. I love you"

________________________________

#kpop #kpopfluff #bxg #malereader #karinafluff #karina #aespa

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formosusiniquis · 7 months ago

Text

have your cake

So way back in August 2023 the steddiemicrofic challenge was Cake and 311 words, my head empty brain came up with one thought and it was Steve Munson having a bakery called Mun's Buns and so many months later I finally got around to finishing my vision

Ships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson; Tommy Hagan/Carol Perkins; implied/past Tommy Hagan/Steve Harrington/Carol Perkins WC: 6408 | T | tags: Future Fic, the lightest of post homoerotic friendship breakup angst, fluff, Tommy POV AO3

The bakery has a stupid name, is the first thing Tommy thinks when Carol tells him where he's supposed to meet her on his lunch break. He’s still thinking that, when he sees the place for the first time through his rain speckled windshield. It's a modest storefront, small for what Carol says is a booming business, tucked in next to a used bookstore and a music shop. There's a baby yellow awning hanging from the front just underneath a sign lettered in soft blue that reads Mun's Buns.

He's late, is the second thing he thinks after pulling up. Caught up in some stupid bullshit for his dad he hadn't managed to slip away until 12:30. Even then it had only been because Tommy had told him he was going to be late for their cake tasting. He'd rolled his eyes when his father and Greg, a guy that Tommy only considers a co-worker in the sense that they are technically on the same payroll since Greg in every other aspect is incompetent and an idiot, had winced. Shooing him away like a kid who'd just admitted that he's already twenty minutes past curfew. But catching sight of the way Carol has her arms crossed, tapping her foot fast enough to kickstart a motor, while her hair hangs limp in a way that it hadn’t this morning a third thought crosses his mind: maybe he should have been a little more worried.

Waiting isn’t going to make things any better. So he steps out of the car, let’s the misty damp cling to him in a way that makes his dress pants and button down feel like a poorly tailored second skin, and takes his licks like a man. "Late, thirty minutes late. Christ, it's the only thing I've asked from you Tommy." Her right hook stings just as badly as it did sophomore year when she punched him for asking out Erin Murphy instead of her.

Shit like that is probably why no one expected them to make it this long or this far.

When they went away to college; different schools, hours apart. His parents had been gleeful as they'd warned him that high school relationships didn't always last. That he should keep his options open, he didn't want to miss out on the love of his life just because of comfort. He didn't get offered the family ring when he decided to propose right after graduation. Carol has always been particular. Wanted the house to come back to before the wedding could happen, wanted a long honeymoon. That meant saving, a lot of it. Tommy knew and Carol did too, they'd overheard his mother and aunt gossiping in too loud voices after too much wine that they hoped the long engagement meant they were both trying to figure out a good way to break it off with one another.

Still, over the course of their now five year engagement no one's asked once if they wanted to trade for it.

Carol thought it was horrendous anyway. She’d had her ring picked out since ‘85, styled her class ring so it would look like the oval cut diamond she wanted. Had him slide it on her finger the second it came in.

Cause in the politest of terms, Carol could be a raging bitch. She was Tommy's favorite person in the entire world.

There’s going to be a bruise on his shoulder tomorrow, even if she’s guiltily smoothing a hand down his arm now. Thrust toward the door first in offering, Carol is sorry she hit him but she’s not apologetic. “I’m serious, Tom, if we lose this appointment and have to go with Sweet Treats for our cake I'll- I'll-"

Whatever threat she was preparing is drowned out and then cut off by the echoing TONG of the door chime. A light in the back shifts color for a second, out of place enough that he wonders if he even really saw it. Head tilting toward Carol, his question catches in his throat when he notices her pinched off appraising. Better not to add to the ammunition she might already be building.

And if Carol is looking he better do it too. She'll want to debrief when they're having dinner tonight, just like they did with the florist, the caterer, the three wedding planners they'd met with, and each of the venues that they'd visited. And it wasnt because she was demanding, fuck you Greg. It wasn't because she was being nitpick-y, alright it was a little bit because she was but he liked being particular with her. He liked being involved in his wedding.

So he looked around.

The way they utilized their space -- a building that big and there's barely enough room to stand, we want someone who knows how to work with limited space for the venues we're looking at -- was the reason their first wedding planner hadn't gotten hired. Small, but not cramped. There are a handful of tables scattered in the open space in front of the counter. It’s the kind of small town cozy that Hawkins had tried for and he doesn’t see very often anymore now that they’ve moved out to Indianapolis.

It’s lunchtime, still too early for people to be seeking out the rows of deserts in their neat glass counter and too late for the breakfast crowd. But one of the tables is occupied by a teenager with long, black braids scribbling in a notebook while a slice of ice cream cake melts on a plate by her elbow.

Everything was neat, organized, and compliant with health code regulations -- they hadn’t even made it in the door of the first caterer’s when she noticed a trail of ants and roaches marching into the open kitchen door.

Carol had always been quick when she was making up her mind about something. Like those Sherlock Holmes stories they’d had to read in school, in a couple of seconds she could spot everything she needed to make a decision. After a decade Tommy still couldn’t keep up; but he was always best at following someone else’s lead.

The smile she’s got frosted across her face is as sugary and fake as the roses on the cupcakes he can see behind the low topped counters as she approaches the only visible staff member. A girl, young in the way that nebulous way anyone younger than him was now, with thick squared glasses that magnified two distressingly blue eyes. The counters looked like they were designed to sit low enough that she could easily see over the top while in her wheelchair.

“Welcome to,” her customer service tone borders on bored. Two words into a clear script and she sighs, as if saying the name physically pains her, “Mun’s Buns. We’ve got a special series of summer flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Lavender Mint, Chocolate Fudgsicle, and,” she sighs again, “for the grownups a boozy Blue Moon with orange zest.”

“How about a wedding cake.” He’s impressed. Carol made it through the speech without interrupting.

“Do you have an appointment?” the girl raises her voice, enough to make them both flinch back. Customer service isn’t a requirement for this part of the job necessarily, but Carol had bailed on two venues because the staff hadn’t been polite enough.

Her smile doesn’t crack though, “Yes.”

Even though he’s pretty sure this girl has to be basically blind with the inch thick frames, she levels Carol with a lethal stare. “Not you.”

From the open entryway behind her Tommy had been able to make out what sounded like the highlights of yesterday’s game. He assumed that space had to be the kitchen where these rows of deserts were made. He’s still surprised when a guy’s voice is shouting back, “I don't know, Max, do I? Why don't you check?”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Max shouts back, glowering at then in stand in for her mystery boss.

“With your finger, asshole. It's in braille. When I gave you this job you said you were actually gonna work.”

“Douchebag." Her eyes never leave them, while her hands rummage around in a space beneath the counter where the cash register sits. Max offers no explanation or apology for her shouting or for her boss. A large red appointment book gets slammed down on the nearest counter, making Carol jump but the neat two by twos of chocolate frosted cupcakes don't budge. He watches, a little fascinated by the way her finger scans the page before slowing. "Did you write this or did Dustin?"

Carol has always valued gossip over professionalism, he thinks that’s why she’s done so well as a hairdresser even though she was always awful at chemistry. It’s also why he’s held off from pointing out that they could solve this a lot faster if this guy would come out from the back. "Why?"

“Cause one of you can't spell and one of you is trying to invent braille shorthand. So I'm not really sure what to do with TomGan Wed.”

“It might be Thomas and Wedding.” Carol leans over the appointment book as she says it, using a tone of voice he has never once heard her use in the entire time he’s known her. He thinks it’s supposed to be helpful.

“Wedding sampler.” The girl calls toward the back, “It's getting late.”

“I’ve got it,” the voice from the back shouts back.There’s an effortless assurance Tommy can hear from where he’s standing. It hits him with a wave of nostalgia so strong he grabs Carol’s arm on instinct.

“Really,” she says, cutting her gaze over to him. He’s not sure what she sees. “If we could hurry this along, it's just we've only got an hour.”

“You're late.” The glare she gets shuts Carol down faster than he’s ever seen.

“Right.”

“Okay I've got it.” The voice from the back is now the voice in the doorway. Hidden for a second by a serving tray loaded with samples of rich looking cake, it’s the first time since arriving that Tommy has actually wanted to be here. Not just because he can make out strong shoulders and a body of a man that’s still very fit but clearly enjoys his work too; the hint of love handles above strong thighs. Only then that tray dips, and for the first time since 1985 Tommy finds himself looking at the shocked hazel eyes of Steve Harrington. “Oh.”

Carol reacts for him, taking in a breath sharp enough she might puncture a lung. They’ll both wind up suffocated on the floor of this stupid bakery with an awful name, because Tommy can’t manage to breathe at all looking at Steve. Still unfairly handsome, faintly pink at the shock of seeing them too he imagined.

His hair is long, is the first real thought his half fried brain manages to put together. Soft looking even where it’s damp at the temples where sweat has pooled. He has it pulled back with a couple of the same butterfly clips that Carol likes to use.

His second, somehow more hysterical thought: this wasn’t how Steve Harrington was supposed to be included in his wedding.

Tommy was six years old and knew he wanted to marry Steve. When he’d told his mom -- to ask for her ring, Steve thought it was romantic like princes and princesses that they had a special ring that they got married with -- she’d grabbed by his arm so hard it’d left finger shaped bruises. So he’d held that certainty quiet in his heart until he was ten, and suddenly it was okay to want to play with girls on the playground -- he thinks it’s because Steve got tired of there never being an even number when they tried to play kickball, he had a way of making everyone want to do the thing he was. Carol wasn’t afraid to tell Tommy C. that he was dumb or to tell Mark L. that he hadn’t actually made it to the base, Steve liked her fast. Too fast, and Tommy had to tell her that one day he was going to be able to keep Steve all to himself. But he knew that it wasn’t right to say that now, even if he wasn’t all the way sure why it wasn’t. He was ten, but he would be eleven soon, and he took this part of him that he’d kept secret for so long and he whispered it to Carol under the slide while Steve tried to convince Brad P. that he could too pick two people for his kickball team first.

He was ten and Carol said they could share. Boys can’t marry boys, but girls can. So they could both marry her and live together forever.

It became a joke when they finally shared it with Steve, thirteen and boys going out with girls wasn’t funny the way it used to be. Sarah Jane asked Carol if she had a chance at going steady with Steve. She told Tommy about it later and they both told Steve that he was too good to date any of the girls in their grade. “Well I’ve got you guys,” his voice cracked when he said it, throwing an arm around both of them. Carol didn’t care as much, but even she’d noticed the way Steve was changing from boyish to handsome.

They were sixteen and disaster was just around the corner, not that he knew that. Steve dated around but he always came back to them. The head, the heart, the body. They don’t feel complete without each other -- at least Tommy doesn’t. Mr. Kripke, who was hungover more often than he wasn't, passed out ten minutes into study hall. Carol didn’t even wait to see if he’d wake back up before she left her assigned table for theirs. She smoothed out a lined piece of notebook paper for them, and Tommy scoffed like he was supposed to. “Aren’t we a little old to be playing MASH?”

“It’s dirty MASH, and I thought you’d think it was funny.”

“I think it’s funny,” Steve had said, “that you’re getting eiffel towered on your wedding night. Who else is joining in, Carrie?”

“We couldn’t agree on who got you for their side of the aisle. So we’re taking you to bed instead.”

He was sixteen and the way that the two of them looked when they shared a joke was the hottest thing in the world. The way their smiles mirror when they turned to him, sharp and ready to flay open the softest parts of him.

Tommy’s two days older when Steve lets him kiss the taste of Carol out of his mouth.

It was three days after he turned seventeen and he had to pretend he didn't want to die when he saw how Steve looked at Nancy Wheeler. Like he didn’t want to rip his hair out because Steve was fucking infatuated with this mousy little teacher’s pet and wouldn’t even look at him anymore.

He still doesn’t like to think about the breakup. He pokes it like a fresh bruise. Less often now, but when he does he digs his fingers in. Baits Carol into fights he doesn’t mean just so he can pretend like he hasn’t lost something that hurts like a limb.

Steve Harrington turns twenty-eight next week, and he’s standing in front of them both holding pieces of what might turn into their wedding cake.

“Wow I can’t believe you’re in Indy!” False excitement grates, but at least Carol has gotten herself together enough to speak. He thought he’d have at least another few months to prepare for the thought of seeing Steve, by their ten year reunion he was going to be married and happy and over it.

“Yeah, this is- Married, wow! I kinda can’t believe you haven’t already.” He says it to Carol, his platitudes had always been for Carol, but his eyes find Tommy.

While Carol chatters at them and for them both, nervous, he knows she’s nervous. The situation is sudden and strange and fraught. But Tommy just looks at Steve, who looks at him. He’s getting married in three months, one week, and two days from now and for the first time in eleven years Steve is looking at him.

"Takes a while to save up for when you want the best of everything. Dad's still the skinflint he always was, I think he'd pay me less than minimum wage if he could get away with it."

And those soft brown eyes look so sad, looking at him. Sometimes he thinks no one will ever understand him the way that Steve did.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting the best, or having a long engagement." Carol defends. It's the same line she's been giving everyone. Defensive of him and herself and the choices they've been making. He can't believe Steve is someone she thinks they have to defend against.

“I really hope you're happy, man," he says, and the sincerity is a balm on the sting of this conversation. He pushes his hair back from his face, the way he always has when he's uncomfortable and trying not to make it obvious. And there's a fresh new hurt when Tommy catches sight of a plain gold band on Steve's finger, shining bright between the golden highlights of his hair.

“I’m happy about this,” he can say honestly. Carol is one of the only things he’s ever been sure about. She held him steady as she could when his other sure thing left him with a cracked foundation in a convenience store parking lot. “What about you? How long after meeting the future Mrs. Harrington did you wait to put a ring on her finger?”

“Tommy,” Carol chides as the teen in the corner snorts. To anyone else it would sound like a reprimand for being nosy, he, and he suspects Steve, knows she’s telling him to stop worrying a scab that has no hope of healing right.

Married and they didn’t know. Wouldn’t have found out until the reunion. It’s not like he expected an invitation, maybe an engagement announcement sent to their parents’ houses. They’d sent one to Loch Nora when the real ring had finally made it to Carrie’s finger. It was equal parts olive branch and offering. They’d gotten it back return to sender with no forwarding address.

The bell above the door tongs again, loud enough to make Carol jump. The platter of cakes doesn't shift at all in Steve’s hand. His arm shows no sign of fatigue. It’s almost distracting enough that he misses the obvious. The bell signals someone is coming into the store.

“Sorry, Sweetheart. I know I said I wasn't gonna be late but Mike…” There just inside the door is the Freak. Undeniable even with his head down as he digs through his shoulder bag. From the riot of poorly maintained tangles that still hang around his shoulders to the expanded mess of tacky ink on his arms. The only thing that’s changed is the age in his face and the band on his shirt.

“Munson?” Carol has the reflexes and the personal grace to address him first. Shock more than the disgust it might have been when they were still kids.

Tommy feels like a kid still. Looks to Steve in an instinct he’d thought he’d stamped out years ago, only to be met with wide eyes and teeth grit tight enough to draw out the square line of his jaw.

“Christ, I still get nightmares that start like this.” Munson says, eye darting between the three of them. “Max, am I naked?”

“Don't know, don't wanna know.”

“I thought you'd be able to tell by the energy in the room.” He wiggles his fingers, still bedecked in silver, like they can divine the vibrations or some witchy shit.

That’s enough to make Steve break just a little. A soft, exhaling scoff before he finally starts to move out from the counter. Tommy catches, and he doubts Carol misses it either, how Steve passes the closer tables to set his tray down between them and Munson.

“I can tell I don't want to be here for this.” Their redheaded audience member says, “I'm taking my 15.”

“Don't go harass Mike, he's finally working,” Munson says.

“Will and El are on shift on the other side,” Steve calls out, not looking at any of them as he moves cakes from his tray to the table. A deliberate selection he seems to be making.

“Whatever, I’m gonna call Lucas and break up with him so he can play better or whatever.”

“Don’t be too harsh,” Munson calls out, “I’ve only got him on a five point spread.”

If Carol’s nails break from how hard they’re digging into his arm, somehow it’ll be Tommy’s fault. Not the fact that they’ve advanced the worst part of their ten year reunion by months, and also Munson is here and knows shit about basketball.

“Sorry, think my hearing’s going, sounded like you said you want him to lose and he’s getting kicked from the next one shot. I’ll let him know.”

“She gets that from you,” Steve and Munson say in sync. Glaring playfully at one another the way Steve used to with Carol.

“I’ll tell Robin you were-”

“Do not sick Buckley on me, Max made the deaf joke not me.”

“Weird, that’s not what I heard.” Steve has always claimed his hair as his best feature. It isn’t -- Carrie liked his eyes, Tommy his hands -- but it’s hard to deny that it doesn’t look good, flipping over his shoulder. His smile is private, just for Munson, soft the way he got whenever he picked up a new girl. Carrie taps the back of his hand, two sharp smacks, their signal for years that he needed to pay attention and notice something she had. Wide, nervous eyes dart to Steve -- like he hadn’t already been looking at Steve -- so he does his best to assess the way Carol would.

Jealous, viciously, Steve had been theirs in every way that mattered since they were ten years old and Carol had never liked sharing her toys with anyone but them. She watched his face for any sign of unhappiness anytime a new girlfriend came along, and when she found one she passed it along to him. So he could pick and joke until Steve was all theirs again.

So he checked the face. Tried to ignore the way Steve was lit up from the inside out with a joy he could barely remember, and then he saw the hearing aid.

He tapped back, three times. O.M.G.

“The 1985 Homecoming court here to reveal that this has all been a long con, Stevie?”

“Yeah I faked the name change paperwork and picked up a fake ID, sorry I took my business somewhere else.” Steve says it with the sincerity he’s always made those kind of jokes with, his strange sense of humor never coming across when he always sounded so serious.

Munson gets it though, snorts loud and ugly, before a smile pulls wide across half his face the otherside taught with a gnarly scar. “Now I know why my fake ID business went belly up when we got to the city, not like I only sold three in high school.” He gestures to the three of them in a wide arc.

Sophomores, they had decided it was time to throw their first real party now that Steve’s parents had moved out of Hawkins in all but name. Steve was a latchkey kid of new proportions and took to self sufficiency in a way that had seemed adult to him then; and in hindsight looked more like a child fighting for his life. Steve bragged how he’d been saving up the weekly checks they’d sent to ‘sustain him’ while they worked in the city during the week. His contribution to Tommy and Carol’s vague plan to throw a kegger by the pool. When they’d floundered, immediately, with the hows, Steve had been the one to suggest going to Munson.

“Love this preview of the reunion,” Carol cuts in, there’s no bite but Munson bristles anyway like she’s being rude for reminding them that there are customers present. “Steve?”

It’s funny, Tommy thinks, the way Steve still straightens his back at Carol’s tone. All this time and he can’t fight the old ingrained instincts either.

“Dustin made the appointment,” Steve apologizes, even as he’s posture perfect and preparing his pastries. The unsaid, ‘I definitely wouldn’t have’ doesn’t go unheard and it doesn’t sting any less even this far from their last interaction.

“Munson could join us,” Tommy offers, a new olive branch since their last one was never seen. Even if it does raise three sets of brows and makes Carrie’s nervous smile tighten even more in the corner of her mouth.

“Well at least one of us has to,” Munson, Eddie, says. Just says, tone like it was meant to be something said under his breath.

He's grown up a lot since high school, they both have. Still, he's only got twenty minutes left on his lunch break and it's been a long day. "God, is that why it's called that?" Growth, he doesn't say that Steve Munson sounds a lot dumber than Steve Harrington.

"It's charming," Carol and Steve both say. Though Carrie is definitely lying and Steve barely gets it out from between his gritted teeth, a sore spot. He's always been good at finding Steve's bruises.

"It's charming," Tommy agrees, like he always did when he was out voted.

Eddie has a smirk spread across his face and a ‘too proud of himself’ look in his eyes. Mouth open to make some quip that Tommy is going to pretend is funny, for Steve’s sake. Now that they’re here, he’s going to do something to show that they could talk to one another again. Steve clicks his tongue, taps his index and middle finger down to his thumb two quick times before he can.

He turns to the girl in the corner, "Erica, scram, go help Robin and the kids with the new donation that just came in."

The teen continues to scribble in the notebook in front of her, bulky headphones over her ears, she makes no sign that Tommy can see that she's heard Steve speak. "Erica, go, or I'll tell your mother you moved out of the dorms. You're 20, it's not child labor, and you've got a timecard."

She sighs and wordlessly packs up her things, she gives Steve a scathing look that takes Tommy back to high school. The withering eyebrow and rolled eyes would have been just at home on Steve’s own face in 1985, but she marches behind the counter, the sound of her dish rattling in the sink before she disappears out the same door that the redhead had gone out.

Now that the room has been cleared, an awkward silence has found the space to squeeze in. Munson, the original, still standing in the doorway and Steve standing between his unlawfully wedded husband and the two people who had lost their chance at him years ago.

The wedding and the reunion both on the horizon had dredged up a nostalgia that Tommy and Carol had been dealing with in their own ways. Dredging up old yearbooks, Carol had found a shoebox of old notes that she’d kept. Conversations written in three different inks by three different hands, nonsensical after all this time. Tommy woke up from dreams that he hadn’t had in years. Always of Steve and Carol, a study in opposites, but similar where it mattered.

“Well,” Steve says, taking charge of the situation like he always would when the other two faltered, “you’re here for a reason. We might as well get started on it.”

Steve’s fingerprints are still on them, just like he’d noticed theirs on him, molded as they were together. They’ve always bowed to his expectations, and his whims. When he ushers them to the table with a spread hand, Tommy and Carol go where they’re beckoned.

And so does Munson.

They keep an empty chair between them, an artificial divide for Tommy’s sanity, but with the sprawl of Munson’s legs their knees still occasionally brush together. Carol had taken the spot closest to Steve, who has stayed standing. He is their gracious host, marking the head of the round table.

“I pulled out the full sampler before I realized it was you,” Steve says. Even with as off balance as the interaction has felt, Tommy doesn’t feel his hackles raising. While it’s possible he’s gotten more subtle with his digs, Steve’s vicious tongue was usually unmistakable. “I can tell you about as many of them as you want though if you want to pretend like we don’t already know what I’ll be making you. I’m sure neither of you have eaten lunch yet.”

“You are going to take us on?” Carol asks. Shock always gives her tone an extra edge, defensive and catty, even if she’s really just waiting to see if another shoe will drop.

“Obviously,” Steve says, placing a faintly orange square of cake in front of her. He slaps Eddie’s hand away from another piece without looking away from either of them. “That’s as far as I’ll be going in participation though.”

He doesn’t miss the way Steve’s mouth twitches up with the joke, a filthy smirk that leaves Tommy flushing hot. Too warm to not be a bright and obvious red at the acknowledgment of that old private in-joke.

It doesn’t get better when Carol moans, “Oh my god, Steve!” Even if it is about the cake.

He laughs, and Tommy suspects the two are actually trying to kill him. He chances a glance over at Munson who looks like he doesn’t care at all that his husband has made Tommy’s fiance moan. He is watching Tommy though, an inquisitive look like the one Carol gets when she happens to catch a nature documentary.

“Yeah,” Steve agrees with Carol, “I’ll do something small with that citrus cake for you and Tom so you’ve got something you’ll actually eat on your wedding, maybe a pineapple buttercream on top like that nasty Juicy Fruit gum you like so much.”

“I mean it’s really crazy how you’re so good at this when you’ve never had any taste,” Carol compliments, she never did learn how to be nice.

He could probably count Steve’s teeth in the answering smile. Tommy can feel it like an ache in his chest how much he missed this. He snatches another cube of cake off the tray just so has something else to focus on.

“That’s the fancy one for the people who hate their guests,” Munson says as the cake has settled on the flat of Tommy’s tongue.

“It’s lavender,” Steve corrects, and the floral flavor is lodged in the back of his throat at least gives him a reason now to feel so choked up. “And it is for a particular sort of bride.”

“Are you saying I’m not fancy and particular, Munson?” Carol asks.

She’s obviously talking to Eddie Munson, who lifts his hands up in answer. But it’s Steve who says, “If you tried to feed that to Gail she would leave the reception bitching the whole time.”

“Well go on,” Tommy finds himself goading now that he’s swallowed, “finish calling your shot, Stevie. You said you knew what we were walking out of here with.”

Carol reaches across the table, locking eyes with Eddie as she snags the piece closest to him. The one his fingers had been inching toward like he thought Steve wouldn’t notice him trying to take it.

“I’ll make a small citrus cake for you, Carrie, we’ll hide it in the back of the larger cake so you can get the pictures of you cutting it and smashing into each other's faces-”

“We will not be doing that,” she interrupts, the warning for him and also unnecessary. He already knows how she feels about being embarrassed in public.

“Then the big cake for your guests will be a chocolate cake, I can cover it in a buttercream or a fondant icing also chocolate, because it’s the only kind of cake the Hagan family will eat. Even though I’m sure John hasn’t given you a dime for the wedding, he’ll complain until Hannah gets married if he doesn’t like the cake.”

“Really,” Steve continues, “the only thing up in the air is how many people you were able to get away with not inviting, Care.”

The two of them start talking actual wedding logistics, and as Tommy grabs another bite of cake -- this one looks like it might be a normal flavor -- he figures the real show of good faith would be talking to the only other person at the table while he eats what Steve correctly dubbed his lunch.

“Y’know he never actually answered me,” he says in an undertone.

Munson seems surprised at being spoken to, only widens his eyes in response to Tommy’s unasked question.

“I asked Steve how soon after the first date he proposed, he never actually answered.”

Eddie softens at the edges before he can even say anything. Steve had a way of doing that, bringing out the romantic in a person. He loved with a passion that demanded it be matched. “Technically I proposed to him, but he says it doesn’t count because we weren’t together and I was high on morphine after a major surgery and thought he was Apollo, come to whisk me away.” The smile on Munson’s face looks dopey and drugged up now, like the very memory of whatever hospital stay is so ingrained in his mind he can feel the high now.

“But,” he goes on, “he told me we were getting married whether it was legal or not about three months after he got legally married to another woman.”

“Stop,” Steve has always been able to sense when he’s about to be the butt of the joke. He has a finger pointed at Eddie like a teacher delivering a lecture. “You can’t tell people that. It was for tax reasons, I’m not cheating on my wife.”

“You say tomato, I say whichever one of us is your least favorite has to be the extramarital affair.”

“I say, you’re the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met.” Tommy can hear the warm affection behind the insult, the way their picking is a safer way to express their passion for one another.

He thought he would be jealous of whoever finally managed to reel in Steve Harrington for good, and he is. The emotion is there, present in the snarling tangle of emotions that this encounter has left in him. One that he and Carol will have to slowly tease and pick out tonight when they’re home in bed. Trying to make sense of what each thread is and what it means for them. But the one bright pulsing thread he can make sense of is happiness. He’s happy for Steve, happy that he gets to see an old friend so at ease and obviously cared for.

And he’s sad that his time is up, his lunch hour so close to an end he’ll be late getting back to the office. Something he can already hear his Dad and fucking Greg giving him shit for. Which means they have to end their time here.

Steve walks them to the door, flips the sign to mark them closed for lunch.

“Congratulations again, you two,” he says, “I really am happy I can get to be a part of this with you all. Even if it’s a little different than we used to imagine.”

Carol reaches out for the both of them, puts her hand on his arm. Tommy finds that he’s the one who actually says, “We’re glad you found someone who makes you this happy, dude. You deserve it.”

“Yeah, he’s alright most of the time.” It's said with such fondness it becomes a declaration. It’s hard to imagine how they thought they could ever be the something that could make Steve this happy. But maybe in a different life, under different circumstances it could have been.

There’s a minute where they all stand in the doorway. He wonders if they’re all afraid that this might be the last time they see each other, speak to one another, until Steve is delivering the cake on the day of the wedding. Maybe it’s just him, he was the one who pushed back the hardest after things ended.

Someone finally gives in and pushes the door open. It’s TONG a death toll for their current conversation. But it also sends a jolt through Steve, he straightens to his full height like a shock has gone through him. “Here,” he says, “here, um.” He digs around in his apron until he finds a pen and a receipt pad. Jots down something before tearing it off and putting it in Tommy’s hands, “It's our home number, in case you have any cake emergencies or something.”

They really can’t stay any longer.

Carol takes the note, better at keeping track of these things than Tommy is. It’s hard to know if they’ll actually use it, maybe after they talk about it, but if they do she’ll be the one to do it. She’s always been braver than him.

There’s no way of guaranteeing anything but the fact that they’ll have a cake on the table on their wedding day. But he hopes that Steve might stay for the ceremony once he brings it, he can even bring Eddie if that’s what gets him there.

Alone in his car, Tommy lets himself take a minute to think about Steve Harrington one last time. He isn’t going to get what he wanted as a kid. Doubts that he’ll ever be as close to Steve as he’d been in childhood, too much time has passed and too much has changed.

But there’s an opportunity to get to know Steve Munson, and he isn't going to pass it up. Even if he doesn’t know how to name a bakery.

#steddie #steddie fic #implied past stomarol #Baker Steve Harrington #my fic #tommy x carol #tomarol #genuinely don't know what their ship name is I'm sorry #future fic #the author is experiencing some complicated emotions about their 10 year reunion and this is now the second fic I've posted this year-#-that's mentioned one so clearly forcing fictional characters to emote about it for me is not working #the terrible trio do own every business in the little storefront Tommy mentions and they employ the kids who they have a stable income-#-while they work on their passion projects

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