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mybrainrotforreal · 1 year ago

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Cat Cafe!AU Chapter 5

Hector sits in the quiet solitude of his apartment, his mind is a swirling tornado of emotions that he struggled to make sense of. There is an unfamiliar yet not unwelcome feeling in his chest. It’s warm and pleasant but something is tugging at his mind. He feels bare. Vulnerable. He has locked his heart and thrown the key to oblivion but Charlie climbs the high wall, break the window and swarms inside.

His gaze is fixed on nothing in particular, like a cat staring at the wall. The memory of Charlie's simple yet significant gesture played on a loop in his mind—the way Charlie had greeted him with sign language at the cat cafe and his eagerness to learn more from him. Hector's heart is a battlefield, a clash between his past and the exploding emotions that threatens to reshape his present. His childhood, scarred by his abusive mother, has instilled in him a deep-seated fear of vulnerability. He has carefully guarded himself with armor, an impenetrable fortress, nothing can hurt him. But now, it feels more like a prison than a safe place.

Charlie won’t hurt him, right? He looks like a nice person, at least normal in society standards. Sure, as a barista he learns sign language might be a service base for inclusivity but oh, the way his cheek reddened when Hector touched him. It had been innocent and unintentional, just a fleeting touch. But the way Charlie's face had flushed, his blue-gray eyes meeting Hector's with a mixture of surprise and something else—something that made Hector's heart skip a beat. Being mute, Hector has always been cautious when it comes to interpreting gestures and emotions. His past has taught him to be wary of misreading signals, his mother was unpredictable and he should keep watch about her feelings. Keeping up with someone's emotions is a matter of life or death to him. Hector leans his back to the couch and sighs, as he analyzes that fleeting touch in his mind, he can't shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, Charlie's reaction had been more than just surprise.

As days turned into weeks, Hector notices subtle changes in Charlie's behavior. Charlie's eyes will linger a moment longer on Hector's hands when they sign, his smiles get even wider when Hector opens the cafe’s door to come in and now, Hector catches the barista looking at him, with his big puppy’s eyes. Hector might just give him a little nod and calm smile but inside he is burning. If Charlie looks at him all the time then how can he steal a glance at him? He is beautiful, and everytime he comes home, Hector misses his presence already. He is doomed. Charlie has barged into his fortress, while at first he was afraid of being exposed, now he wants to keep Charlie there, all for himself. His therapist back at the orphanage says he is too territorial for his possession but that's what happens to someone who only has so little. He will try to love Charlie, to make him happy, to make his life easier with his presence and help, to protect him from any threat in the world.

He has beaten someone for Charlie and he will do it again for him.

Fortunately, it was only one time and the days that followed have been peaceful, if not an occasional cat fight at the cafe. And he can’t show his love if there’s no threat around. Hector curates materials and apps that might help Charlie to learn sign language instead, helping the barista to build the bridge between them. After weeks of learning, Charlie has remembered the basics, short sentences and expanded his vocabulary. Once, Charlie told him on the weekend he has a visitor with hearing aid and he recounted the encounter, his gestures mimicking the sign language he had used with his eyes shone with enthusiasm. He described the joy on the visitor's face, the way she put her notes back into her purse and how he could understand what her orders were.

While Hector has a glimpse of jealousy - He will take care of it later, if Charlie feels happy he can use sign language with people other than him, so be it - he feels the warmth in his chest again but now it’s tinted with a sense of pride, a new emotion he experiences. There’s nothing to be proud of in his life, certainly not his mom where his schoolmate always bullied him because she was a prostitute. Not even the accomplishment of his prestigious project he has worked on for weeks. And now, as Charlie sits in front of him, his eyes alive with the memory of the moment, Hector’s heart swelling with a warmth that only comes from witnessing the growth and accomplishments of someone you care deeply for. This moment is more than just Charlie's success—it’s an outcome of their shared time together at the cafe. Charlie might not have that kind of experience if he hadn’t met him. Hector feels special, he feels useful, like he is proving his mother wrong that he is not useless.

"You did amazing, Charlie," Hector signs with a smile, his fingers forming the words that conveys his pride and affection with his eyes never leaving Charlie’s.

“I did, I did!” Charlie signs him but his hands move so fast it looks like he is flapping his hands. He is like a praised puppy, tail wagging in excitement. “But I have an amazing teacher so…” Charlie stops a bit and remembers he doesn’t know the sign for “Kudos” so he vocalizes it instead, “ kudos to you, Hector!”

Hector only snorts and looks away, hiding his blush, still uncomfortable when he is praised, a stark contrast from Charlie, who shines even brighter instead.

Charlie smiles at him softly and signs him “thank you,” still with a gesture that looks like a kiss bye and Hector still doesn’t want to correct him.

Hector watches the barista walk back to the bar, his fake tail bouncing behind him. He turns his attention back to the laptop in front him, the only companion he has. He works faster in the cafe than in his apartment so he gets more time to spend by reading books, even ordering dinner at the cafe and stays there until the closing times. It almost feels like a second home to him but there's only one thing that bugs him. The paper and pen registration. It's not practical both for the guest and the barista, who needs to recaps the data every night before the closing time. Hector ponders a bit and starts to make a prototype of a website. He envisions an online platform where orders can be placed, reservations made, and important information stored. Of course, he won’t forget cute cat photos and paws illustrations for the interface with an earthy color palette just like the cafe’s. It was a digital solution that would not only save time but also enhance the customer experience and even some digital exposure as well. Maybe Charlie will like it, he hopes. and maybe he will have the courage to show him that.

He spends late nights designing and coding, carefully crafting a website prototype based on the cafe's needs and aesthetic, it should be perfect and flawless because Charlie deserves nothing less. After they have the sign language session at night, Hector clears his throat, his heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Somehow, presenting his work to his crush is more emotionally demanding than to his client. Hector's heart beats rapidly like a rabbit as he explains his idea, the concept behind the website, and how it can make the administrative side of the cafe become more efficient. With Charlie’s limited vocabulary in technical terms, Hector is switching between sign language and typing on his laptop. He highlights its features, its user-friendly interface, and how it can save Charlie time and effort.

After Hector ends his presentation - still with his heart pounding in his chest-, he finally looks at Charlie. Damn, he really needs to look at his audience when he speaks but he can’t.

"Oh, Hector, this is amazing!" Charlie signs with his eyes dilated like a kitten looking at a new toy and only then Hector lets out a long exhale, not realizing he has been holding his breath all this time. “You've put so much thought into this. I can't believe you did all of this for the cafe.”

Hector's heart swells with a mixture of relief and shyness, he is still not used to being complimented and Charlie always finds a way to compliment him. Hector only shrugs and looks away, as if hiding his blushed. “It’s not that hard,” his fingers forming the words with a touch of awkwardness, too quickly than he usually does.

Charlie scrolls the website prototype but suddenly he looks timid and unsure, his smile slowly disappears. "It looks great but how much is it? I need to talk to my boss and I don't know if we have budget for this...,"

Hector shakes his head and signs, “No worries, it’s free.”

"What? Are you sure, Hector? It looks like it's a lot of work."

The programmer snorts, he built the website with a framework, it's not that hard but yes, he doesn't want Charlie to feel like he owes him. He takes his laptop and types:

"I made it for my portfolio too so it's a win-win." Charlie might not know the sign for “Portfolio” yet.

Charlie looks up at him as if he has built a paradise only for him and hugs the older man, uttering his gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

Hector freezes and his breath caught in his throat, feeling the warm body engulf his and Charlie's fake cat ear tickle his nose. After a couple of moments, he realizes he needs to move so he awkwardly pats Charlie's back. It's a weird sensation, he has never been hugged before and Charlie smells... good. Maybe he can sniff his hair a bit more?

"Yes, I love this prototype, I still need to notify my boss though but I bet she will love it!," Charlie lets him go and gets back to the bar. "I have my specialty, a 3D art latte with a foam that looks like a bunch of cats in a cup. Would you like to try?"

Hector nods, he notices other visitors have ordered it but never tries it, he finds solace in familiarity but maybe, he can try this new experience. And who can say no to those puppy dog eyes?

"One 3D latte, right away sir!" As Charlie makes the coffee, Hector sits in his usual place but instead of taking out his laptop, he looks at Charlie intently for the nth time. How he has captivated his attention with his child like excitement and how tenderly he treats the cat. Even the avoidant one.A strange thought pops in his mind, if only he could adopt him too. Hector sighs, he has been staring at the blank laptop for a couple of moments. He needs to reassure himself he is here to work, so he starts to write the codes for the prototype. He only stops when he hears a soft thud on the table. Charlie has served him the 3D art Latte.

"It's in the house! Again, thank you so much for building the website, it will really help me in my work and give me more time to rest. I love this job but man, how I hate administration duty.” Charlie sits in front of him again.

Hector chuckles, albeit inaudibly. "Glad I can help you .” After a moment of gathering his courage to get more information about this barista, he adds, “You have an accent, are you from the UK?”

“Yes! C-O-R-N-W-A-L-L” The barista’s fingers form the letter enthusiastically. “My family migrated here years ago and I used to enroll in veterinarian school in this city. But, you know, my pop kicked the bucket and it was hard for the rest of my family to stay in the US so they got back to Cornwall." Charlie sighs a bit and he looks solemn. Suddenly, Mr. Holmes hops into his lap and decides to sniff the latte but the barista is fast enough to snatch him away and lets him sit on his lap instead, the barista absentmindedly stroking his soft fur.

Hector’s suspicion is true, Charlie did go to college but things happened. After teaching Charlie the sign for "Veterinarian", Hector asks, “Why don’t you go back with your family?”

"It was my last year, I can’t leave my studies behind, not when I was so close to finishing. Failure is not an option, you know? Besides, I made good friends with the owner of this cafe, we call her Marge, when I worked as a part timer. She offered me a full time job and even let me live upstairs for free so I can watch the cats. I can save up that way, hoping to continue my studies next year, and maybe even secure a scholarship." Charlie looks back at him with a smile, but even then Hector can see exhaustion lurking underneath his bright eyes. "It's not that bad actually. I have more than fifteen lucky cats here so I consider myself lucky."

Hector tilts his head in confusion for a couple of reasons : First, how could he tell his backstory as freely to another person? How can he be so vulnerable? A stark contrast to Hector's own guardedness, a defense mechanism he had developed over the years. Secondly, Hector struggles to understand how Charlie can maintain his enthusiasm after such a drastic change in his life. Hector types on his laptop again, “How come it doesn’t break you?”

“Of course I was broken! Crying out for days." Charlie signs, and then he goes back to his voice when he is feeling emotional. "I mean, as a kid, you never really think about your parents not being there. It's hard to imagine a world without them.”

Hector’s breath hitches, His life got significantly better when her mother died but even then, he still feels the longing in his chest. He looks at Charlie and hopes for him to continue, noticing his eyes become glassy.

“My father’s family has a small farm in Cornwall, he was the first one who introduced me to animals. He taught me how to take care of them, how to nurture them, and how to find joy in those connections.” Charlie cradles Mr. Holmes in his chest, the cat puts his head on Charlie’s shoulder and purrs. “That’s why becoming a vet has been my goal, it’s like a tribute to my father’s teaching and memories we shared back in our hometown.”

“Your father sounded like a good man.” Hector signs slowly, eyes still looking at Charlie with a soft gaze.

“He was! Of course he had his flaws but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the world.” As Charlie chuckles as he closes his eyes, making the tears that have been pooled on them spill over. Hector takes a tissue on the table, feeling the urge to wipe them away but still unsure if Charlie is comfortable enough if he touches his face. He nudges Charlie’s hand instead.

“I’m not crying, I was laughing!” Denying the obvious, Charlie still takes the tissue and wipes his face. “Sorry, shouldn't info-dumping you like that."

Hector shakes his head, "No, I'm the one who asked." Then something intrigued him, “how about your mother?”

“Oh, she doesn’t love animals that much like my father and I remember I needed to hide my rescued cats in the barn. She doesn’t hate them, just thinks they make our house dirty.” Charlie chuckles and warm softly. “She likes gardening, plants are not noisy or making a lot of mess. I don’t know, Ma said she once had a childhood dog and when Cookies passed away she swore to herself she won’t have that kind of heartbreak again.”

Smart woman, Hector thinks then he tilts his head to Charlie. “Do you like gardening?”

Charlie frowns, unfamiliar with the words until Hector types it and repeats the sign. The barista shakes his head and looks embarrassed. “No, plants die everytime I touch them. Couldn’t even grow a bean in a jar for my science projects. It's my mom who has a green thumb. She literally can make anything grow.”

Hector nods and makes a mental note if he ever gives Charlie flowers, he’ll make sure to get him the long lasting ones. Another useful data to store in his database of Charlie. In the end, Hector continues to ask him about his life, not letting him have a moment to ask about Hector’s. He listens to the barista’s story attentively, giving him a little nod to encourage Charlie telling him more, trying to understand what makes him stand out from others. What makes Charlie, Charlie. The stray animals he rescued, his favorite place in Cornwall, his sister who is good with art, how he didn't have the guts to split open a frog in highschool and eventually overcome his fears when enrolled in vet school. How he actually prefers tea instead of coffee and only learns about coffee when he works as a barista. Charlie can talk so much and bares himself to Hector, and he feels honored to listen to him.

Once again, they talk past the closing hour, Hector knows it but he doesn't do anything until Charlie takes a glance at his watch and looks at him sheepishly, "Gosh, sorry, I'm rambling again."

Hector only shakes his head and signs slowly for him to catch up, "I like it when you talk."

There, Charlie is blushing again and averts his gaze awkwardly, "Should've let you talk about your story too, sorry."

By the look of it, maybe in his past Charlie has been told to stop being self-centered but Hector doesn't mind, he is not ready to tell about his upbringing. Not yet. He needs to make sure if Charlie can accept him first. Looking at the honey-lemon lollipops in paws and cat shapes on the counter, Hector decides to buy it.

“The cats here are well-kept and healthy. I think you would be a good vet one day.”

Charlie nods hastily, his smiles and eyes getting brighter everytime Hector praises him. "Thank you."

Hector puts the lollipop into his mouth as he makes his way to his apartment, taking the piece of the cafe to accompany him home. Charlie's tales of his loving father and nurturing mother painted a picture of warmth and affection felt worlds apart from Hector's own past. According to his mother, his father left her when she was pregnant, even when he hasn't been born yet, he already ruins her life. His earliest memories are tainted with the sting of her hands—a slap on the cheek here, the harsh sound of a belt whipping through the air there. The moment he learnt what words are, they were profanities directed at him, or men who slept with his mother downstairs. But even then, as a child who is destined to be attached to their caregiver, deep inside, Hector still loves his mother, believing she could change and love him back like what they say in the stories he read or what he observed in his school. He has tried everything for any crumbs of affection from his mother, at least not to make her angry but she always found his mistake, no matter how careful he was as a child. She looked past the warm meal Hector had made and focused on the mess in the kitchen instead. He cleaned the kitchen while listening to her mother complaining about his food. He followed the recipe exactly as they say, but it was still not enough and he accepted his mother's punishment to forbid him to eat that night. Love is still a foreign concept to him, a twisted reason to forgive someone that hurt you.

It’s terrifying to be afraid of someone you love.

Charlie works so hard to honor his father by doing the things his father taught him. On the other hand, Hector tries his best not to become what his mother said about him. Charlie’s father taught him to love but is it too late for Hector to learn? As a perfectionist, he wants everything to be flawless and importantly, he doesn't want his mistake(s) to hurt Charlie. But making mistakes is inevitable, he is a human after all, or a monster with human skin, according to his mother. Hector's heart feels heavy again, feeling guilty for a crime he doesn't commit… yet. The notion gnaws at the back of his mind like a relentless predator, whispering that he is dangerous, unworthy, and incapable of reciprocating Charlie's affection without inflicting harm. And if Charlie loves him back, Hector will inevitably hurt him and Charlie will forgive him because of love, then in some way or another Hector will hurt him again. It's not fair for Charlie.

Maybe making the website is a bad idea, he shouldn't integrate anything of himself into Charlie's life. Hector feels he should pull himself away from Charlie. Administration task is inevitable and Charlie has been doing this for years. Sure, from Hector's observation the cafe can be empty on weekdays and people rarely do takeaways but the cafe is still striving. They could do just fine, even before Hector becomes a regular. The lonely man sighs, but Charlie looked so happy, even his smile was contagious when he showed the barista the prototype. Hector is like an eaglet on a fledgling stage, at the edge of a precipice, peering into the unknown, torn between his fear of falling and his desire to fly. Hector opens his laptop again, his cursor hovering over the code of his new project. Yet, in the midst of the raging storm in his head, there is a glimmer of hope. Charlie has learned to love, maybe he can accept how Hector is, maybe he can understand him. He collects strays, doesn’t he? His presence is like a lifeline, a lighthouse in the darkness. Hector yearns to believe that maybe, maybe he can change, that he can learn to love in the way Charlie deserves.

#sorry for making you guys waiting #it has a lot of contemplation on Hector's side and I love to dive deep into his mind #charlie lonnit #hector munday #granthem du'met #du'lie #heclie #the devil in me #tdim #du'met x charlie #dark pictures the devil in me #charlie x hector

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