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The cafe had been something of a passion project as Janus got it running and profitable. He'd studied business alongside the psychology of self-care and set about making his cafe the perfect retreat for people to relax in.
He'd never expected to make friends by running it, or have two of them basically decide to be employees, almost without actually asking. Still the jumble of characters that not only made themselves regulars but also friends was a group Janus was loath to lose now he'd gotten to know them all.
“I know I stepped away to serve a customer but I doubt even you can be interested by tax returns, Logan.” Janus remarked, coming back to the table he always claimed near the counter if paperwork needed doing. Instead of empty as he'd left it, one of his regular customers was now sat by his laptop checking the form Janus had been filling out.
Logan glanced up at him before returning to the form. “I'm more interested in correcting the errors you've made while distracted. I seldom find cafes such an ideal location to work and would prefer you don't have to lose it due to incorrect taxes. Why don't you focus on serving and the other aspects of running your cafe while I get these forms ready for you to file?” His tone made the suggestion basically an order.
Mildly affronted and fairly disbelieving of what was being done, Janus challenged it, “Because I know you well enough to expect there'll be a discussion of payment as soon as a quiet period arrives and I'd prefer not to have an unexpected outlay to amend those for.”
“Here are the normal rates I charge for freelance work and as I took the task on rather than being requested to aid, you can have a 15% discount on them.” Logan pulled up a page on screen, opened from his own email account before turning it for Janus to see. “If it's preferable to you, I'll include that while going through these and that will be the rate you are charged for any future assistance too.”
“Most accountants don't just take on clients without being sought out, you know.” He had to state, eyebrow raised challengingly as Logan finally met his gaze.
Logan just smirked and nodded, “And most people who preach about the importance of self-care know the importance of asking for help and accepting it when offered.”
“Touche. Tell me when you're done as I believe there are people for me to serve now.” He turned back to the counter, but kept an eye over on the table for the afternoon, occasionally bringing over drink refills. Since Logan was technically doing work for him it was the least he could do.
Honestly, it was doubtful that Janus wouldn't have asked Logan for assistance at some point while balancing the taxes and costs of running his cafe, but having his customer and friend basically decide to have him as a client was mildly surprising.
The cafe had grown very busy as people came in for their lunches. Janus had just had to go and put a few things on to cook for orders people had made before serving the next customer. “Who's ne- … Patton, why are you behind the counter?” He broke off calling for the next customer at the realisation there was already somebody stood there.
“There was a queue building up and you've been really stressed today so I decided to help out Kiddo.” Patton cheerfully replied, while making the drink that had just been ordered.
Janus swatted at Patton's hands to take over making the drink, hissing, “I'm not letting you work behind the counter unless you're actually employed.”
That didn't have the impact he'd hoped for when Patton chuckled, turning back to ask for the next order with the comment, “Well if you're offering me the job then I'm more than happy to take it.”
“That's not – Okay you're staying after the cafe is closed tonight so we can actually discuss this. Deciding to help out is not the right way to get a job and Please tell me that's not how you got employed as the veterinary receptionist?” Janus tried arguing again but didn't want to have a full argument while there was a queue of customers. With a sigh he gave in and decided to at least try getting Patton to talk about this properly later.
“Of course not, Jan, I applied and got interviewed for that.” Patton passed the next drink order to him as he spoke only to get properly shooed away from the counter finally.
“Good to know, now go back to your coffee and let me serve the customers. You aren't an employee yet.”
Janus had been resolute when opening the cafe that he didn't need to employ anyone and could fit in taking time for himself around running the cafe. He had definitely been overruled in regards to that, but at least his regulars turned employees seemed to be taking care of themselves the best out of his friends. Looking after his regulars was more important than the costs despite what a couple of them believed. That had been why he refused to let anyone out of his employ work in the shop usually.
“Potions maker! Energy brew please!” There had been a lull in customers that Janus had used to have a coffee for himself when Remus barged in, coming to lean almost the entire way over the counter. There was a cut over his cheek and his eye definitely looked like it would be showing a black eye in a matter of hours.
“You're bleeding and are more interested in getting coffee than first aid?” Janus tried to sound scolding but really was already too used to Remus's antics for this new development to really surprise him. He bent to find the first aid kit he'd placed under the counter in case of emergencies.
Remus however just waved off the concern, “It's just a scratch. Now give me bean juice!”
“I've got the first aid kit and you're gonna sit still while I tend that wound or you'll be on decaf for the next month.” He rounded the counter, kit in hand, and pushed Remus over to the comfier chairs with his free hand.
Patton had come in a while earlier to have a drink and read but now jumped up, moving to the counter. “Kiddo, want me to tend the counter while you help Remus?”
“Thank you Patton.” Janus nodded, but focused on pushing Remus into a seat and getting a better look at the wounds.
“But Duke Coffington, I wanna drink the energy juice! The bleeding's almost stopped.” Remus protested, constantly trying to stand although it didn't take any effort beyond a hand on his shoulder to get him down again.
Janus rolled his eyes, pulling out an antiseptic wipe to clean the cut, “I don't care. You will look after yourself or wait for your drink while I look after you instead. Also you're the one that tries to be a duke, pick some other singer to get nickname inspiration from.” He could only assume Remus was trying to make a play on the name of the jazz artist Duke Ellington since there was no other reason to connect that title to him.
It was rare for Janus to bend the rules on paying for items, but especially with his friends he was ever ready to waver them in favour of them taking a freaking break. It seemed none of his regular customers understood how to take care of themselves or take proper breaks from the things they stressed over.
“Virgil, everyday this week your eyeshadow has seemed more and more to be just part of your skin, have you perchance heard of this wonderful activity called sleeping?” Janus had heard the order that had been placed but made no move to make it or input it into the till. Instead he scrutinised Virgil's face, expression carefully neutral.
His reply was a groan and a shrug. “No time to sleep. I've got 4 major projects that have to be finished this week and nothing is going right on them.”
“Probably because you're too tired to properly work on them. Come now, take a nap on one of the sofas and I'll bring your order over when you wake up.” Previous attempts to make Virgil take his health seriously was all that stopped Janus from trying to coax him into a nap. Only Patton seemed to be able to manage that, but suggesting it and trying to withhold coffee sometimes worked.
The tired glare thrown at him showed that wasn't enough today. “Just give me a coffee so I can get at least one of them finished before getting screamed at by another client.” Virgil growled out.
Pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes slightly Janus decided that Virgil's health was more important than the minimal profit to the cafe. “One time offer, I'll give you a chamomile tea and cranberry jam scone for free if you only work while eating them and take a nap immediately after finishing them. I will be watching and ready to confiscate your laptop if you lie.”
“Unless I get lucky and Remus comes in to distract you before then.” The counter was immediately thrown back, somehow most of the regulars were convinced Janus liked Remus more than the rest of them.
“Bold of you to believe I can't focus on multiple things at once. I do run this cafe after all.” He stated, moving to get the scone set on a plate.
Virgil groaned again at that, flinging his hands a little, accepting the deal in the grumpiest way Janus had ever seen. “Ugh, Fine! I'll take the free treats and then have a nap! Happy now?”
“Spectacularly.”
There had never been an intention for any themed evenings, or poetry readings to be arranged in Janus's cafe. He'd barely considered occasionally having live music, only deciding to because he enjoyed listening to it and relished in the excuse to do it. That never meant that Roman wasn't a law unto himself, just like his twin was and had quickly found the best corner for performances to be done in the cafe to recite from.
Once Roman had decided on that it became an unfortunately frequent occurrence for someone to approach Janus at the counter frowning as the current lady approaching was. “Sir, I admire that you're giving amateurs the chance to practise performing in your cafe, but can you request they at least perform solo scenes or have a friend take the other role? This guy reciting half the lines to a scene leaving the others a complete blank is really distracting when I just want to have a warm drink.”
Janus closed his eyes and took a deep breath before replying, pasting on a calming smile. “Thank you for pointing out that Roman's arrived. We've had a rush of customers so I hadn't noticed. I'll speak to him.”
He sighed as he stepped away from the counter, gesturing he'll only be a minute to the next customer. There Roman stood in his corner, a script in hand.
“ You're walking a lonely road,
Not something many would goad.
Are you going to your abode?”
He paused, tilting his head and moving as if listening to the reply.
“ You'll know how?
By sign or street or cow?
Why aren't you there now?”
Janus waited for a moment after the line was finished, expecting some action to interrupt before he could stop the scene. When none came he stepped close enough to pull the script away, “Wonderful to see you again Roman, but as I've said before, this is not your rehearsal space.”
“Janus, my delightful barista, I'm sure you can't fault me for wanting to introduce the people to such wonderful works of artistry as this!” Roman greeted him with open arms, before turning to present his corner for rehearsing.
“I can when nobody has a clue what conversation you're meant to be performing is given you're skipping half the lines.” He chided, crossing his arms over the confiscated script.
Roman's hand came to cover his heart in affront. “They aren't for me to perform and I've not seen Patton or Logan to ask for help. Perhaps you, my dear, could-”
Janus cut off the suggestion before it could be finished, waving to the front of the cafe. “If it hasn't escaped your attention, I am running a cafe and need to serve my customers. Find some poetry to recite if you must remain performing, otherwise sit and take a break.”
“But I need to be prepared for my audition.” Roman pouted at him, trying to take his script back.
“From what I've just seen, you already are, Darling. Now place your behind on a seat and stop making people wonder what your lines are from.” Compliments always were the easiest way to convince Roman to conclude a performance and it was true that he'd been barely looking at the script before Janus came over.
“I'll come and order my treats for the day first. My apologies for any disturbance, Janus.” He was mollified but still pouting slightly. He cheered up a bit when Janus added whipped cream to the top without asking.
Yes, Janus had an unusual mix of regular customers turned into friends, and he was likely to indulge them to some degree in their eccentricities. He was really just thankful that with the exception of Remus they'd all learnt the basics of serving for the instances he had to drop everything to perform first aid. Also that Virgil and Roman refused every time he'd offered to include them as part time employees, pointing out the most they ever covered for was an hour or two a month.
“Janus! Our Hero! The only one who can get the Duke to accept help! I'm taking over the counter!” Roman storming into the cafe like a tornado didn't usually include leaping the counter, nor pushing Janus to leave it.
The lack of the mentioned friend in the cafe did only get a confused reaction, and a worried look around the cafe. “Roman, what? He's not even here.”
“Outside, beside my car. He was staggering when I passed him. I've got a kit prepared for bigger injuries than yours in my car so here's my keys. Just get my brother to listen.” Roman just continued shooing him away, pulling keys from a pocket and pushing them at Janus as well.
There wasn't a moment to think when Roman came barging in saying things like that only to shove Janus towards the door of the cafe. He could only grab his own first aid kit and pray this wouldn't be the day he had to insist on calling an ambulance.
Thankfully Remus was still sitting where Roman had said when Janus got there, although it looked like more of his shirt was tied around his legs than still part of the original garment. “I'm not sure if I should be grateful that your injury has kept you sat there or concerned that it's serious enough to do so.”
“There's my favourite pair of eyes. Your brown eye looks like a volcano's lava today. Look at me so I can see if you've got lightning happening in your grey one.” Remus's words slurred and one of his hands tried to make Janus meet his gaze.
It was too easy to pull the hand away as he knelt to look at the legs still profusely bleeding. “No, Currently you can close your eyes and brace yourself while I clean this cut. What the hell did you do to get your legs sliced so much?” He took a moment to get the first aid kit from Roman's car, now understanding why a bigger kit would be useful and grabbing a water bottle at the same time.
“Climbing railings. I wanted to torment those bullies Logan's working with. Give them nightmares.” The pride in describing the mischief he'd been trying to do wasn't missed, but Janus was mostly focused for the moment on using his handkerchief to clean the cuts, rinsing it with water often. He'd already untied the scraps of Remus's shirt from his left leg and cut away the fabric of his jeans that was trying to fall over them.
“Well I'm sure the blood trail coming away from there has probably done that. When did you destroy your shirt to tie around these?” Janus had to ask, wondering if Remus could have lost too much blood and needed a transfusion. The wounds had begun bleeding more heavily the instant he'd removed the shirt scraps that had been tied around them.
There was a pause as Remus tried to remember the detail and Janus got bandages wrapped around his left leg and moved to start tending to the injuries on the right. “After I'd rounded to the front of the building. I didn't want you to get suspected of murder or something because I needed your loving touch for my pains.”
Janus let out a heavy breath, frowning up at him before refocusing on tending the injuries. “As thrilled as I am to hear you actually are seeking out first aid now, I must ask that in the future you avoid getting so injured. It really isn't good for you.” It wasn't a surprise that Janus was the one Remus sought first aid from. The first time Janus had tried using soap to clean Remus's wounds he'd seen how badly Remus took just the suggestion and found alternatives to use from then on. He was well aware that most people wouldn't do that, even among their friends after Logan's lecture on injury care one afternoon.
“But it's fun, and you ignore it when I say I could drown in your voice but give me attention if I'm walking wounded.” Remus huffed, pouting and fidgeting so Janus couldn't properly clean his wounds.
“Legs still.” He instructed, gripping lightly to ensure that was followed, and humming a little as he cleaned the next scratch. “So if I took you on a date would that get you to stop treating your life as expendable?” He wondered. It wasn't something he'd have suggested usually but Remus was an infinite adventure to know and oddly sweet in his gestures . Aside from that the other had been flirting basically from the first time he'd joined Roman in visiting the cafe so what attraction Janus had ignored given the man was a customer was definitely reciprocated, if masochistically so.
“Yes! Tomorrow night we can have dinner together! What gardens should I break into to steal you flowers?” All movement in Remus's body seemed to get diverted to his head with how still he went while nodding wildly.
Janus leaned back for a moment, reaching for more bandages and looking up at him consideringly. “I don't trust you not to get into a fight doing that. Why not Roman's neighbours and we'll ask him to keep an eye that you don't make your injuries worse overnight?” The neighbours had been mentioned a couple of times by either twin as aggravating at best, homophobes two steps from assaulting someone at worst, so losing some flowers or having a destroyed garden wasn't really something Janus minded scheduling for them.
“I get to destroy the pretentious git's gardens? Of fucking course we can do that!” With the way Remus moved then Janus was fairly sure Remus had been about to jump up to declare his brother an accomplice needing to help plan their attack before remembering the half finished bandages on his legs.
Deciding to remain seated, Remus rambled on about how their date would be and other things they could do together as Janus finished bandaging the wounds. He'd have to wait and see if his worry over Remus turning up with injuries could actually be reduced, but dating him was guaranteed to be an adventure, even more than running his cafe was.