#raphael runs the cafe in this scenario and doesn't usually work the register

[sesamestreep]

Merrick/Raphael, "instantly"

i keep telling myself I'm going to write an honest-to-god coffee shop AU for these dorks and then I never do, so here's the espresso shot version 🤎

It’s another busy afternoon in the café and this time Inti is out because Aquila brought home a nasty case of strep from school and gave it to her, so Raphael is stuck at the register again and he’s in such an efficient rhythm with taking customers’ orders that, once Merrick gets to the front of the line, he just rings up his usual without even asking. It’s only after Raphael has told him his total that he looks up to find Merrick staring at him with wide eyes and he instantly regrets every choice that has lead him to this moment.

“Sorry, I should have—”

“No, it’s fine,” Merrick says, fumbling to quickly pay with his card. If there’s one thing Raphael has noticed about him (aside from his name and his usual order and…well, quite a few things, now that he thinks about it), it’s how much he hates being in the way. He’s obsessively polite about that in particular.

“You did want your usual, right?” Raphael asks, and he’s not embarrassed that he remembered. He isn’t. It just means he’s good at his job. That’s nothing to be embarrassed about!

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

“Merrick…”

“That’s what I wanted,” he says, firmly, and then gives Raphael a hesitant smile. “I just didn’t know I was so predictable.”

Raphael remembers what Inti’s always scolding him about and tries smiling back. “Not predictable,” he says. “Memorable.”

“Oh,” Merrick replies, looking pinker than he had a moment ago, despite having just come in from the cold. “Well, that’s certainly better.”

“You staying, or…?”

“Yeah, I thought I might.”

“Good. I’ll, uh…”

Merrick nods, even though Raphael hasn’t managed to articulate his thought yet. “Sure. I’ll be around, if you want me.”

With that, he makes way for the next customer in line and Raphael is left to think about what exactly it is that he wants, which is not a subject he allows himself to dwell on very often. He counts it as a minor miracle that he gets anyone's drink order right after that.