The Coffee Shop

I make no claim to any of the Gundam Wing characters. This story is written for my, and hopefully others’ enjoyment and not for monetary profit. Many thanks to Allison for the beta.

The Coffee Shop
by Michalyn
Rating: G
For 30_kisses themes #11, Gardenia and #25, Fence.

Wufei comes to Amoretti’s Coffee Shop every day and orders a cappuccino with his favorite double-fudge chocloate cake. He makes sure to sit near the window, though during the summer the strong light hits his face at an oblique angle, reflecting against his glasses and making it hard for him to see the newspaper he’s pretending to read. Luckily, today is a mild spring day, and the sunlight only creates a gentle warmth against his face and neck to match the pounding of his heart. He’s come to Amoretti’s many times in the past, but only in the last thirteen months has it become his favorite cafe, as has this particular seat, separated from the next booth by a row of potted gardenias. Now their sweet scent, mingled with the warm aromas of coffee and chocolate, always reminds him of this coffee shop and the one who has caught his eye.

The bell tinkles, announcing the arrival of a customer and Wufei’s hand trembles on his fork. He doesn’t have to look up to know who it is. It is 11:00 AM. It will be him and he will order Chai tea and the apricot-almond biscotti. He’ll talk to the owner for a few minutes and then slide into the booth in front of Wufei’s. Even though it’s the middle of the work day, he’s always casually but impeccably dressed, which makes Wufei think that he’s either out of a job or rich. Wufei sneaks a glance at the fine cotton shirt he’s wearing. Probably rich. He’s definitely not a college student like Wufei.

Wufei peers above his newspaper at the older man, his desire safely hidden behind the fence of gardenias. He despises himself for observing the other man at a distance and not having the courage to get up and say something to him. It is dishonorable, cowardly and goes against all Wufei’s staunch principles. Except this is a matter of the heart not the mind and despite his best intentions Wufei finds himself shy, even cautious. What if his affections are not returned? He doesn’t want to make a fool of himself.

The older man’s cell phone rings and Wufei knows what he’ll say even as he brings the phone to his ear.

Hello, this is Treize.

Treize: His hair glints like cinnamon; his voice is deeper and sweeter than double-fudge chocloate. They say thirteen is an unlucky number but Wufei couldn’t associate anything negative with Treize even if he tried. He sneaks another glance across the table and his sigh ends on a note of longing. If only he was not so bad when it comes to romance. Why can’t he just jump right in and introduce himself? Wufei peers through the glossy leaves of the gardenias again but this time something is different. Treize is staring right at him.

Wufei swallows. He can’t say what, but something happens then. His hesitation sails out of the door and suddenly it seems like the most natural thing in the world to put down his newspaper and slide into the booth with Treize.

“Hi.”

Treize smiles at him. “I thought you’d never come over,” he says and Wufei is stunned when Treize leans over and kisses him on the corner of his mouth. His heart is pounding like a jackhammer and he just can’t seem to catch his breath.

“Sorry,” Treize rumbles with a twinkle in his eye. “You had a piece of chocolate cake.”

Thirteen months, three hundred and eighty-six days and one hundred and sixty-nine sighs. Do they say thirteen is an unlucky number? Wufei muses as he smiles back at the older man. Hidden behind the fragrant gardenias with Treize, he knows they can’t be right.

End