Work Text:
Wolfchan's arms are too short to be of help on the task of tying his apron correctly, but at least he can fit his head through by himself. Maybe he struggles with his big ears, just a little — what matters is that he always manages just fine with that first step in the end, which makes him basically a genius. All Chan has to do is drop to a squat and pull the thin side strips into a knot behind his back. Can't blame a little guy for how he's built.
Chan hands him his notepad and works on putting his own uniform on. "Ready for work?"
Howl In Harmony Café is on a cozy corner of a relatively quiet neighborhood, in the perfect middle of a community that makes up for its small-town size with the enthusiastic clientele of a big city. Chan opens early in the morning, takes a lunch break, opens back up at four in the afternoon and closes for the day around eight— there's always someone sipping on their coffee until the last minute. People he greets by name because they're his neighbors, people he crosses on grocery runs, at the gym, at the local pool. Back when he'd first stepped into this place, empty and in need of some fix-ups, such precious familiarity had only been a dream.
Wolfchan waddles to open the door for their first customers: a pair of friends on their way to work who pat his head kindly as they choose their seats and wave their hands Chan's way with big smiles. Chan waves back, to-go paper cups already out— he knows they'll linger for only a couple of minutes before taking off. The café isn't the center of much action unless it's mid-morning, when the bell hanging above the door starts to ring without stopping, client after client coming in after a good walk or run to reward themselves with warm pastries and a full cup of something sweet.
Like Nayeon, who slumps against the counter and uses the entire ten minutes it takes for Chan to bag her usual order to wind down enough to be able to speak, also her usual: "Ugh, Channie, you save me daily."
Like Lily, who is always too distracted by Wolfchan's cuteness to tell Chan if she wants sugar or not. He always bags two small packets just in case, and laughs off her playful threats: "Ah, I just can't. One day I'm gonna take Wolfie with me— so adorable!"
Like Minho, who looks fucking ridiculous with that baby-carrier on. Chan laughs before he can stop himself, then slaps a hand over his mouth. Minho's scowl does nothing to intimidate when Leebit keeps kicking his legs and following the rhythm of the radio music with his ears. "Give me my coffee, Bang."
Chan pushes the bag with his and Changbin's orders further away, grinning. "Say the magic word."
There's a counter between them and plenty of witnesses, so Chan's not that worried about Minho's closed-eye deep breath. "I'm killing you in my head."
"It starts with a P."
"Please," Minho utters through gritted teeth. Chan gives him his things while giggling, happy with himself. "Go to hell."
"Tell your boyfriend I said hi."
Minho holds the brown bag up and away from Leebit's eager paws, who squeaks in the face of such betrayal. "I'll tell him I saw you spit in our coffee."
"And that I said hello?" Chan bats his eyelashes, pushing at his buttons some more.
Wolfchan reaches up with his paw, entranced by Leebit's pinkish toe beans, and tickles his feet. The bunny shakes with a round of giggles, and immediately Minho's murderous glare drops. A warm smile curls his mouth instead, and when he says: "Whatever," it's in his softest voice.
Everyone with a companion knows that feeling well. When they look up with big, bright eyes and their ears twitch as they yawn; when they snuggle against you and leave their fur on your clothes, a million hairs you'll pick off of the fabric for weeks with a fond sigh— when they squeak, oink, bark, chirp, howl and you hear I love you as clear as day. God knows where Chan would be without Wolfchan tugging at his apron at the end of a long shift.
"Yeah, you're right," Chan concedes at the end of another day, slipping some bills from the register into his wallet. Wolfchan starts to bounce in place, impatient. "We should go home."
He helps his tiny friend come out of his uniform and then hangs both of theirs up, ready for tomorrow. Wolfchan runs to the door and waits for Chan there as he turns the lights off, paws and nose against the glass to watch as people and cars pass by. When the café is enveloped in darkness he starts howling quietly to let Chan know where he is, like he won't be able to spot him framed by street and traffic lights alike.
"Thank you," Chan says, walking up to him with the keys in hand. Wolfchan's tail swishes happily, and he holds onto Chan's leg as he closes up. It's all it takes for the man to start thinking it's been a while since he's treated his baby with something sweet, like… four days at least. "Should we get some ice-cream on the way?"
Wolfchan howls louder.
.
He and Wolfchan have never had a problem handling the shop by themselves. They're an efficient team made to be the best waiter-barista duo, and their list of satisfied (regular!) customers serves as proof. Waiting time is minimal, both for placing orders and for getting them delivered to whichever table or hand is the recipient. If it gets too busy, Chan will take some orders, too, to lessen Wolfchan's job and explain to each client that it may take a bit longer than usual. His wolf rests, he gets a better timespan to work with— they always, always pull through.
That said— who the fuck are all of these people?
Faces he knows get drowned by dozens he has no memory of. Every table is full and there's an actual line waiting to order takeaway coffee, a sea of people through which Wolfchan has to slither, the very top of his ears barely visible to Chan. There's thirty different conversations going on at the same time, mixing into a singular strident chatter that does not let Olivia Rodrigo sing her truth into Howl In Harmony's speakers. Chan has to lean over the counter to hear what they're asking him for. A cappuccino? A frappuccino? All he's picking up is the suffix, which doesn't tell him much.
A few gasps slip into the mix as Kyujin rolls into the café without a care in the world, skates and helmet tied tight. The place isn't big enough for the multitude as it is. Add a roller skating teenager with a loose sense of speed and watch as something breaks; a cup or two by the end of the day, Chan bets. She props her hands on the pastry display and does another scan of the crowd, as if zooming through hadn't given her a good enough look.
"What the actual hell?" She whispers in awe. "Chan, this is, like, triple the population of our town."
"I've told you, no skating in here," Chan yells over the noise. It's growing back up like an approaching monster. "You're gonna knock people over, or Wolfie."
"I'd rather break both my legs than harm that angel," Kyujin says, serious as a funeral. She pushes lightly against the glass to roll back a few feet, then goes straight for the small door separating customers from the working side. "Anyway, it was the only way they would let me skip the line. I told them I was the delivery girl."
Chan's brain turns on muscle-memory mode to handle the machine as he blinks at her, caught off guard. "You… are not."
"I could be!" She says, disregarding his astonishment in favor of skating from left to right behind the counter, craning her neck to survey the situation better. "I wanted to see it for myself. I thought Lily was lying when she said I.N had been here."
Lid on the cup, a couple sugar packages in the bag. Chan bids another client goodbye with a strained smile, then wipes it off his face as soon as his back is to the remaining… God, dozens. "Who?"
"I.N," She repeats, glancing at Chan over her shoulder like he's the weirdo. "The fashion influencer?"
"I don't know who the— F that is," Chan catches himself at the last second.
Kyujin seems amused. "You can curse around me."
Another customer goes, nothing but two chocolate muffins in a brown paper bag. "I'd rather not."
"He's a model," She explains, spinning in a small circle as she speaks. Chan can feel the sweat forming on the back of his neck— there are so many fragile items around. "Famous on Instagram for matching outfits with his adorable fox companion. He posted a picture eating a croissant last week and tagged Howl In Harmony, which is why all of these influenced randos are here now, I guess."
Chan puts a hand on Kyujin's helmet and brings her to a stop so he can think without squeaky wheels interrupting. He remembers a fox, big-headed and cute enough to provoke a wave of cooing as he went, and the human that came with him, big-headed and wearing shoes so eccentric they made Chan look down at his feet twice. Iced americano, warm milk and two croissants. They'd seemed normal to him, only maybe with a better sense of style than the average person.
*Do you not check the account I made for you?" Kyujin bursts him out of his bubble, looking up at him through the hairs her protection gear has squashed against her forehead. Her eyes light up. "I can also be your social media manager."
"I don't hire children," Chan says.
"I'm sixteen," She argues with an angry pout.
Chan knocks on her helmet twice and lets her go. "Exactly my point."
Wolfchan storms in with five different pages of his notepad filled with even more orders. He hands it off to Chan on his way to his tiny chair, where he slumps with a low growl to rest his legs, clearly annoyed by the increase in workload. Kyujin squats down and pushes against the floor with her hands to propel herself toward him, ready to give him all of the head pats he needs.
She looks up at Chan as she pampers Wolfchan like it's her job— she'd probably pay him herself to be able to do it daily. Then Lily would cry betrayal. "You might have to hire someone old enough, though," Kyujin says.
Chan rests his forehead against the coffee machine, which whirs and pumps another load of caffeine and milk into a cup, and breathes out a sigh that lasts for the rest of their working day.
.
HOWL IN HARMONY CAFÉ
HIRING
TO CONTACT:
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: xxx-xxx-xxx
(18 or older, Kyujin, stop asking)
(drawn in pen right under, sticking out from every other printed detail) :P - K
.
Changbin says he's being too picky, although Chan hasn't stopped arguing that he's being rationally cautious. The café came to him in a dream, where he saw himself putting a smile on people's faces with Wolfchan by his side, happy and at ease. That's the truth laid as it is. Proof can be found on the first sketch of a logo he drew on a napkin right after he woke up, breakfast forgotten. He had it embroidered onto custom made aprons a week later, and he spent the six months that followed searching for the perfect place to make it come true.
He did so on a carefully planned Thursday morning, captured in the framed picture that hangs in between equally precious snapshots: Wolfchan on their opening day, Chan working the machine for the first time, both of them clinking their cups together with a grin while sitting on one of the booths. A single glance at such a heartfelt collection has him rejecting applications that seem unenthusiastic, not replying to those who don't bother with a hello, and feeling only a tad bit bad for discarding people without experience.
Chan has lived in this dream for the last two years, and he needs someone that understands exactly how special Howl In Harmony is.
"I understand most of your decisions," Minho says while squinting at the screen, going over every response Chan has already sorted through to give a second opinion.
Chan gestures lazily with his hands in favor of showing off he'd told them so earlier. Nothing worthy.
"But—" Minho stands from his spot on the carpeted floor and brings the computer to the table, where Chan ponders about his predicament with his head on his folded arms and Changbin's pats to his back. The comforting hand of a friend changes places for the dip of a waist as soon as his boyfriend is within distance, though, so thanks for nothing. "You favorited an e-mail from Kim Seungmin."
"He made the list of possibles," Chan says, recognizing the name in a second. After a brief introduction prefacing the attachment of his CV, Kim Seungmin had left a message that stood out among concise and almost absentminded applications.
I know it wasn't specified on the flyer, but my puppy companion could lessen the work for your wolf if you'd like that as well. He's very active, and I feel like all of his energy could be of help around Howl In Harmony. He's well-behaved and good with others like him— I'm sure he and Wolfchan would become friends in a heartbeat!
"How many names are in that list?" Minho asks.
"Four," Chan lies, and it's weak even to his own ears. Minho raises an eyebrow immediately, and there's no other option than to admit to it under his skeptical gaze. "Okay, just that guy."
"That's who you're looking for, then," Minho says, hands on his hips like that's all there is to the discussion— a closed case.
Chan drags his hands over his face and lets out a heavy sigh. "I'm still not sure."
Minho tilts the computer toward him again and clicks on Seungmin's email, re-reading it for the third time. "Sufficient experience, time availability, polite as hell," He lists with a frown wrinkling his skin, trying to understand where Chan's doubt stems from. "Like, this is the best written e-mail I have ever read in my life."
"He's cute," Changbin comments after a quick peek at the tiny square of a picture on the second file. Tanned honey skin on a face bare of make-up but full of a natural glow.
"Ah!" Minho eagerly agrees. "That too."
Chan blushes. His first objective read of Kim Seungmin's e-mail had been obstructed by the double (triple, four-ple) take his pupils had forced him to do, coming back to his photo every other two words they read. Worked at— he's quite handsome, isn't he— Stars & Raindrops— so masculine— for six months— that face is… insane. When he finally finished going through every piece of information, he knew he'd just been presented with his best and possibly only option, which meant shit in the face of his clear inability to mask his attraction for the guy.
He won't be that kind of boss, thank you very much. Chan's a decent man. So he tells his friends, "I'm not hiring him for having a nice face."
"Imagine he's ugly if it makes you feel better," Minho says, rolling his eyes. He zooms in on Seungmin's picture enough for Changbin to put a finger over his mouth, mimicking a mustache. No plan, no talked-before strategy, just them being made for one another. "There. He's still the most apt out of everyone that has messaged you about the job."
"You need the extra set of hands, hyung," Changbin reasons with logic to counter his boyfriend's blunt approach. "And paws. Wolfie can't keep working such busy shifts, and you can't simply do everything yourself. You can't," he insists upon seeing Chan opening his mouth to argue.
Chan thinks about Wolfchan falling asleep on his back on the way home after closing, about his own body aching every day. The wave of customers has reduced slightly since, but they've yet to recover enough to attend to those that continue showing up— more than what they're prepared for, still. With an employee to help, he and Wolfchan could take actual breaks; maybe leave someone else to close while they do something fun.
"Fine," Chan says, staring at Seungmin's face on his screen. Changbin's still got his finger on it, and it's true that it's harder to appreciate the charming effect of his features when it's there. All Chan needs to do is conjure the same image every time he's nearby. Hopefully as easy as it sounds. "I'll interview Kim Seungmin."
.
have u found some1 for the job yet
its kyujin btw
ive had this handle since i was 11 dont judge
This is a professional e-mail, for professional matters.
I'm interviewing someone this weekend.
That Should Be Me by Justin Bieber Lyrics but i edited them a little
That should be me, holding the mug
That should be me, making latte art (yeah)
That should be me, this is so sad
That should be me
That should be me (ooh)
That should be me,... See more.
.
They meet up at the café on a Sunday to have the place to themselves, and although Chan doesn't tell Seungmin he's hired right away, his decision is obvious from the moment they shake hands at the door. He lets Seungmin behind the counter while he makes their drinks so he can check out the machine, each button and lever it possesses; shows him the backdoor, the supply closet, the bathrooms specific to clients and the employee bathroom that's a bit more hidden. He never says it outright, but it's clear.
When their hands meet again for more professional etiquette, Chan only needs one word: "Welcome."
"Thank you," Seungmin smiles. His grip is stronger than what Chan had expected from his looks. He's taller, elegantly slender. Another sucker punch to Chan's attempt at being totally chill about a man like him. "I'll bring my puppy with me tomorrow."
Wolfchan, snuggled against Chan's side, starts to wag his tail. Bringing him to his and Seungmin's meeting had been a last-minute decision, influenced by the moment Wolfchan was told a new friend was gonna join them at the café and the way he pawed at Chan's legs until he was lifted into his arms. Now the thought of meeting Seungmin's companion has him feeling as excited as he did when he saw the human himself walk into the establishment. Maybe— definitely— more than that.
A puppy. Someone like him. Wolfchan drops his ears and holds onto the tips to cover his eyes, kicking his feet in a fit of happiness.
Chan's heart bursts with love, and he thinks: yeah, this was the right decision. "We both can't wait to meet him," He says, petting the back of Wolfchan's head fondly.
"Ah!" Seungmin holds up a finger (wait!) while he digs through his pockets for a brief minute. He pulls out his phone, swipes away any notification on display, and turns the device so Wolfchan— and Chan, by extension— can look at his screen. "That's him."
The puppy in the picture is caught mid-run, with his ears flopping in the air and his big, round eyes sneaking a glance over his shoulder, like he wanted to make sure Seungmin was following closely. Clad in a knitted sweater and wearing gloves, he easily classifies as one of the most adorable creatures Chan has seen in his entire life. He coos at the image before he can think about it, and Wolfchan lets out a happy howl that seems just as reflexive— they both fly a hand and paw up to their mouths when they realize their respective involuntary sounds. Seungmin laughs.
"He gets those reactions a lot," He says, holding the phone standing still on the table for Wolfchan to continue looking but casting his eyes upward to talk to Chan. "But he can be very naughty when he wants to, despite those angel eyes."
"That applies to many," Chan points at Wolfchan with a subtle tilt of his head.
All the movement around the café has driven Seungmin's fringe over his forehead, grazing his eyelashes and forcing him to look through strands that may not block his view, but definitely pose an annoyance. He shakes his head to push them to the sides as he smiles at Chan's comment, clearing the sight he's been trying not to moon over too much. Maybe he'll consider opening up a position for Changbin as well just to hang around all day, eclipsing his chances of seeing Seungmin in all of his glory.
"I should probably go home, actually, before my roommate—" Seungmin starts, in unison with the ping of his phone signaling a new message. He only needs a quick scan of the screen to know what it is, and the chuckle that follows is full of endearment. "Ah, too late for that. PuppyM doesn't like it when I'm not around for too long; he's already asking where I am."
"I get him— it!" Chan corrects his slip in milliseconds, yet holds no hope of it going unheard. Seungmin's mouth twitches a little, and he lifts his eyebrows slightly, ready to hear the messy explanation Chan's stammering assures will follow. "The situation. I understand, I mean. Same. Like, it happens."
So embarrassing. A thinly veiled I too would want to spend every second of the day with you is damning on its own; forgetting all the connectors in the language as he tries to save his own ass is a reprimanding kick when he's already on the ground. He clenches his hands into fists and tilts his chin down in shame, feeling his neck burning up. This is an employee, he reminds himself. Has he lost his mind?
"Right," Seungmin says. He slides out of the booth and hitches the strap of his bag higher on his shoulder. Chan does the same to be able to offer one last handshake, bid him off with the last of professionalism he can muster up after humiliating himself. "Well, you know where I'll be Monday morning."
Minho could work here too, sawing the floor around Chan's feet until it gives in under him, like in cartoons. He thinks about calling the whole thing off— you know what? I'm not hiring, actually. Why would I? I don't even own a café. I don't know how I got here. Seungmin's bright-eyed smile helps him decide against it. He's still here, and he seems to find it funny, or… well, he's laughing at him, more like, but still. There's saving this workplace relationship. Friendship!
Only buddies on this ship.
He's still holding Seungmin's hand, he realizes. His fingers let go as if burned, sparing the other from another second spent feeling his gross palm sweat. "See you then," He says, too fast-paced to pass as casual.
Seungmin waves at Chan through the front glass panel before disappearing down the street in spite of everything. Chan asks Wolfie if he should take it as a good sign, but he's too busy fishing for remnants of his breakfast between his teeth with a claw to howl his reply.
.
PuppyM demands a moment to smell his way around the place, recognizing every nook and cranny until all there's left to go under his nose is Chan himself— and under, he goes. He stands still as PuppyM sniffs him all over, tail stiff as he judges if Chan's worth a happy one, and Seungmin offers him a small smile from where he stands next to Wolfchan. He's already tied his apron on, the knot aiding in accentuating his waist, and Chan's kind of glad he's got the verdict of a puppy to worry about instead.
"This isn't personal, by the way," Seungmin says. Chan only allows himself a quick glance in his general direction— half because he knows he'll blush, half because this seems serious to the one with the curious snout. "He does this for everyone. I think he enjoys playing with suspense."
That makes Chan laugh, the first movement he's performed in at least three minutes. PuppyM jumps back, startled, and then looks up at him while wiggling his butt and panting in excitement. Scanning complete: Chan's been deemed worthy of his time and presence. Genuine relief hits him in waves.
"Everything good?" Chan asks. PuppyM nods once. "Perfect, then."
"Woof!"
Previous experience allows Seungmin to prepare for his first shift swiftly, but PuppyM needs a bit of guidance that Wolfchan is eager to provide. He tugs his new friend by the paw when the first customers arrive and performs his usual tasks slower, looking over his shoulder every now and then. See? You hand them the notebook, they write their orders and then pat your head. PuppyM's tail swishes with cheerful speed when people scratch under his chin and tell him he's doing a wonderful job.
Throughout the day, Chan finds himself running to do the things he's grown used to over time only to see Seungmin has gotten there before him. He grabs more to-go cups from the back when their supply begins running low, takes on customers before Chan even spots them at the register, and carries the orders Chan's just finished making to their tables with prince-like posture and manners. For the first time in what feels like forever, Chan's able to rest his hands on the counter to spend more than just a second admiring what's before him.
A blend of time, effort, and passion— that's what Howl In Harmony has always been. Beautiful in view, cozy in ambience. Wolfchan and PuppyM walk around with an adorable hop to their steps while the lull murmur of conversation surrounds them, interrupted by occasional boisterous laughter that pulls the corners of Chan's own mouth up. It's the same image his subconscious had painted for him that fateful night, only even better appreciated wide-awake and with less weight on his back.
At the end of their shift, as PuppyM and Wolfchan exchange goodbye howls, Chan feels the need to pour his gratitude into Seungmin's palms. "Thank you so much."
"Thank you, too, for giving me a chance," Seungmin says, standing on the sidewalk bathed in the last of sunlight the day has to offer. PuppyM nudges his hand with his paw until Seungmin wraps his fingers around it, securing their hold for the way home. "I think we'll be a great team."
Chan offers a dimpled grin, pleased to know they share the same feeling. "Took the words right out of my mouth."
Seungmin mirrors it. It's ten times cuter. Chan can't do anything against the warmth that spreads from his chest to the ends of every limb. "See you tomorrow."
"See you."
PuppyM makes sure to turn around every now and then to check Chan and Wolfie are still waving them goodbye, and resorts to angry glares the two times he catches them slacking off. Wolfchan seals their farewell by letting out a howl as they disappear around the corner, and Chan's belly rumbles with uncontrolled— already fond— giggling.
.
i got us 15 new followers on insta this week 🔥🔥🔥
howl in harmony road to fame
You and that account… I don't even know what you're posting on there. I feel like I should.
i made a wholesome meme that went viral locally kinda
its a picture of wolfie with the caption Dawwwggg look at my waiter… I'm getting my order taken by a cutie patootie 🤣🥺❤️
i also made a cv i ran a my little pony fan account back in the day im literally overqualified for this job
The meme sounds funny.
But I won't hire you. Close the account.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… See more.
.
Two weeks into the job, Seungmin has his first encounter with a particular teenage girl in a bright-pink helmet. The sound of wheels on the plywood floor preface Kyujin's entrance, and her arms crossed on the counter feed into her confident aura. Seungmin is too stunned by her approach to perform more than a single blink.
"So you're the new guy," She says.
Seungmin cranes his neck to look past the piece of furniture between them, as if to confirm that she has, in fact, just rolled her way into the establishment. "Are you allowed to skate in here?"
Kyujin's answer comes lightning-quick. "Yes."
Chan heaves out a sigh from where he stands, within earshot of the conversation yet too busy filling a cup halfway with warm milk to fully engage. "Not really."
Seungmin frowns, unsure on how to proceed. She stretches an arm his way, offering her open hand for a handshake, and interrupts his attempt at processing their previous interaction with a new off-kilter move. Seungmin's confusion piles into tilted towers, as if this were a game of sociolinguistic jenga, but he ends up accepting the greeting nonetheless.
"I'm Kyujin," She says, with a toothy smile that better reflects her age. Her skates-clad feet zig-zag in place, unable to stay still for too long. "Chan's favorite customer."
"Debatable," Chan chimes from the back.
Kyujin taps her fingernails against the counter, undeterred. "I get a discount every Friday."
"Not true," Chan clarifies. Seungmin's brain follows their ping-ponging of lies and truths as best as it can.
Kyujin pouts, and waits until Chan's focused on something else to stick her tongue out at the back of his head. Seungmin hides his smile behind his fingers, a bit hesitant to show his amusement at the expense of who is supposed to be his boss.
She suddenly leans forward and lowers her voice to conspiratorial volume. "We should definitely unite forces and fight for our rights as employees."
Seungmin's eyebrows fly up. "You work here?"
"I'm trying to," Kyujin grumbles, deflating in one go. She props her elbows on the wooden surface and rests her chubby cheeks atop her hands. "This tyrant," she emphasizes— Chan sends her a look over his shoulder. "Refuses to give me a job because I'm 16."
"How vile," Seungmin says, quickly catching up to her personality after the beginning trial. His lips quirk upward in full display. "Despicable man, truly."
"E-vil," Kyujin enunciates in agreement. A new thought crosses her mind, and she quickly brightens up again. Damn. Seungmin wonders if his brain worked just as fast when he was her age. "I meant to ask— is the puppy yours?"
"Yeah," Seungmin nods proudly. "His name is PuppyM."
"He's freaking adorable," She states with a hand over her heart, tracking both companions around as they wander between tables. Their notebook pages flap with the breeze that comes with their playful races and twirls, crackling against it.
Seungmin can't help but melt as well. There's no such thing as immunity to tiny-furry-friends loveliness— you only get weaker and weaker with time. "I know," He says.
Kyujin gives him a side-eye look with her serious face on. "Watch out for Lily."
"Why?" He turns to search for answers in Chan's face; slowly, keeping his caution at bay for the time being. "... Who's Lily?
"Lily's harmless, just overly enthusiastic about cuties wearing aprons," Chan assures him. He finishes washing his hands on the sink before grabbing the pastry clamp, and three croissants go into the bag as he speaks. "Her threats are empty."
"Threats?"
Kyujin nods solemnly. "Of stealing them."
Seungmin takes her order, prepares it himself and then bids her goodbye with a friendly wave. He confronts Chan and the truckload of information dumped on him only after she skates away from the shop with her bag in hand— eyes wide, staring at the bell above the door still jingling with Kyujin's departure.
"These are your regulars?" He asks, part disbelief, part barely held back laughter waiting to erupt.
Chan starts it for him, tipping his head back with a loud chuckle. He bumps their shoulders lightly, addressing him with a teasing smile. "They're yours now, too."
.
Seungmin takes that statement with iron diligence, which means he manages to win over almost every customer— new and frequent— in record time. He spends what's left of his first month focusing more on interaction than coffee-making, asking questions throughout the day to fill in the gaps, after which Chan starts to hear him mumbling things under his breath. Two sugars for him. No almond syrup for them— allergic. Barely any milk for her. It's the main reason why Chan spends most of his shifts constantly smiling to himself.
As a result of his careful attention, Nayeon grants him with his own sweet nickname, which is equal to a second christening— or that's what Seungmin's toothy grin makes it seem like.
"Ugh, Minnie," She says, eyes closed as she basks in delight over her first sip of the morning. "Ever since you added that drop of honey into my order my quality of life has improved. Honest."
Seungmin's voice comes out sincere and laced with relief; Chan catches the exact moment he stands a little straighter, chest puffed with pride. "I'm glad to hear that."
Nayeon points at Chan with a perfectly sculpted acrylic nail. The sharpness of it is a threat in itself. "You better hold onto this angel."
Chan lifts his arms, palms on sight, and attests for his innocence. You don't have to tell me twice, he thinks. Later, as they clean up the tables and floors before closing, he playfully tells Seungmin that he fears losing all of his customers were he to ever quit. Seungmin doesn't mention that he could also get fired, maybe because he knows just as well that it's an unlikely scenario. But as he hangs his apron up and a portrait of PuppyM doodled by a toddler with chocolate-y hands falls from its pocket, he says:
"You were right— they're my customers, too," Seungmin caresses the drawing with his thumb as he speaks, an unconscious tug on his mouth encouraging a smile. "I want to show them I care."
Howl In Harmony is, to Chan, a place of and for love— built to find it, to spread it, to gift it, to share it. Coffee is secondary, a means to; that Seungmin shares the same truth so soon makes Chan's heart beat wildly, like a caged bird with a debilitating need for the vast sky. It's one thing to deny yourself attraction to someone who you only think of as good-looking, and an entirely different conundrum to do so when you realize that they understand what you keep in your core in a way few people have. You wanted to get it, so you took the time. You bothered.
Whatever way Chan thought he had out, he's lost the key to. He clears his throat and blinks the burst of emotions away, hoping the shake in his pupils won't be as noticeable. "You're… doing great. I'm sure they feel it in every cup."
"Thank you, boss," Seungmin taps Chan on the shoulder and gives him both a smile and a teasing wink on his way past, leaving him on the other side of the counter. "Learned it from the best."
The title acts like a bucketful of ice water dumped on Chan without warning, pulling him out of his musings and shaking his moral compass awake. Boss. Seungmin's employment status is currently dependent on him, and his salary comes from Chan's bank account— when a word is that heavy, it's worth a thousand. In front of the hard facts, the way his heart pumps a few more desperate beats (just listen to me, I can explain!) doesn't— cannot— mean enough for him to forget this one thing:
It wouldn't be fair.
.
u know that order i picked up today
it was actually for lily so. i acted as a delivery girl
got to her house in 5 minutes and everything was intact like tell me that isn't a slay
I'm considering it.
WHAT REALLY
Blocking you from this address, I mean.
Bruuuuh
Allstar - by Smashmouth begins to play. Shrek goes about his day. While in a nearby town, the villagers get together to go after the ogre.
NIGHT - NEAR SHREK'S HOME
MAN1
Think it's in there?... See more.
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Chan would never tell Dwaekki and Leebit, but it is evident that PuppyM might have quickly become Wolfchan's best buddy. He gets the zoomies whenever Chan takes too long getting ready for work, always eager to reunite with his friend through a hug that sends them both tumbling into a wheel of tails and ears. To them, waitering is just a synonym for playtime; the chance to race around the shop and get pampered by customers when they stop for a recharging break— and today is the day they decide that it's nice, sure, but clearly not enough.
Wolfie and PuppyM take their human's hands when the time to say goodbye starts to rear its head, then drop their façade of compliance to tug, tug, tug until they can link paws with each other as well. The sudden pull drives both Seungmin and Chan forward with clumsy steps, almost bonking their heads together at the last second. Chan catches himself faster, tensing his upper body to remain upright, but Seungmin crashes into him still, his free hand finding purchase against Chan's chest.
"PuppyM!" He chides in shock, looking down at his tiny friend as he performs his award-winning innocent blinks. The smell of coffee has stuck to Seungmin's hair in a way that hits Chan's nose just right when he breathes in, and he keeps on taking it in until his lungs expand so much that Seungmin feels it under his fingers. He pulls away in a second, a subtle tinge of red painting his ears. "Sorry, I— I don't know why he did that."
Cold sweeps through the spot Seungmin had clung to, pushing Chan to take a step back. He scratches his nape with an awkward chuckle. "Ah, I could say the same thing… I'm pretty sure this is a two-puppy job."
Wolfchan lowers his ears while howling in a whining tone, letting him know that there’s something he wants out of this whole show and he’s not afraid to pull out the cuteness card to get it. On the other side of it, PuppyM has resorted to a more daring combination: angry frown and mouth full of teeth between which possibly the most adorable growl slips through. Seungmin stares at him, just as determined in his stance, and shows him his most threatening look back— is it a battle over pride, or are they trying to settle who’s the most endearing?
It’s hard to tell whether Chan’s heart grows or blows up at the sight of it. Either way, it’s impossible to stop his mouth from curving into a smile.
“Alright,” He says, squatting down to be at eye level with his buddy. Wolfie’s ears almost spring back up, an instinctive reaction to having Chan’s attention on him, but he remembers he has something to achieve at the last minute. An ear raised halfway, the other stuck to his big head. Chan taps the tip of his snout lovingly. “What’s going on here?”
Wolfchan lets go of Chan to wrap both paws around PuppyM's and nuzzle their cheeks together— both tails wag happily, bumping against one another and occasionally thumping the floor. They paint a picture worthy of animal calendars, those that stick to someone's grandma's fridge and warrant a second of awww-ing a day. Seungmin seems to be going through a similar thought-process, if the immediate softening of his features is anything to go by.
"You… want to hang out a little longer?" He asks tentatively, stealing a glance in Chan's direction to gauge his reaction; if he'd be up to extending their time together. PuppyM nods with the enthusiasm of five puppies in a single body.
"Well—" Chan starts, earning everyone's attention in a heartbeat: three pairs of pearl-like eyes awaiting his answer. "I do sometimes take Wolfie for ice-cream after work," He says, an acceptance and a suggestion mixed into one.
Seungmin's pupils sparkle alongside their furry companions', as if deep down he'd hoped for this, too. He turns to PuppyM with a barely-hidden smile. "What do you say?"
"Woof!"
Seungmin pinches his cheek, and PuppyM fakes an attack, chasing after his hand with his mouth but biting down before it can touch him. "Count us in, then."
"Bet I can guess your answer too, huh?" Chan teases, tickling Wolfie's sides. He wiggles under Chan's fingertips, huffing out high-pitched howls in between giggles, like hiccups. "Knew it. Okay, let's get going."
Wolfchan sets off first, the way to their favorite ice-cream parlor at this point ingrained into his brain, but he stops just a few feet ahead when he remembers this time there's company to guide. He trots back to latch onto PuppyM's paw and drags him along, leaving their human's behind. Chan and Seungmin share a look and begin laughing to themselves, helpless under the weight of the same wave of adoration.
"It's hard saying no to them," Seungmin says.
"Especially when you also want something sweet," Chan teases him. Seungmin turns to him with a slight frown. It's an unbearably good look on him— what isn't, really?— and Chan can't help pushing for more. He squints. "Were you in on this?"
"What?" Seungmin's voice mixes with a startled laugh, shaking his tone. He crosses his arms over his chest, his and PuppyM's light jackets hanging uselessly from them against the friendly weather, and regards Chan's accusations with a confident: "No!"
Chan's lips stretch to give way to the first peek of teeth, though he tries to reel in the full grin by pressing them back together a second later. "Your face tells a different story."
Seungmin flies up a hand to feel his cheeks with the back of it, breaking full eye-contact but stealing fleeting glances in between. "What about it?"
"It lit up at the mention of a little treat."
"All faces do that," Seungmin argues. "Yours, too."
"Nuh-uh," Chan bickers childishly. Seungmin's lips twitch in amusement as he looks at him with newfound curiosity. This is how he acts outside of work? When Chan's not boss, he's a pigtail-tugging kid at a playground? "I don't even want ice-cream."
"So you won't order anything?" Seungmin asks, tilting his head as his intonation rises. PuppyM does that, too, when he realizes during closing time that a few pastries haven't been sold. He looks at Chan with his big eyes and floppy ears, begging for a bite, and gets him to give in at record speed. "Why did your face lit up when I said yes, then?"
Sometimes, when Chan notices the heat crowding his cheeks after a conversation with Seungmin, his eyes dart around the shop to check if anybody has caught him red-handed. Red-faced. PuppyM is usually there, staring at him with a wagging tail.
With so many similarities to keep count of, resemblance is impossible to ignore— even if being aware of such comparison one day finally kills Chan. It truly might. Seungmin acts like his puppy.
"I'm happy if Wolfie's happy," Chan says, less playful. Shy in an absolutely incriminating way. A few breathy chuckles shake Seungmin's chest, and he nudges Chan's side with a soft shoulder-bump.
"Do lies always come so easily to you?" He teases. "That's concerning."
Chan laughs. "It's the truth!"
He ends up ordering a two-scoop cone, and Seungmin calls out his bluff as Wolfchan and PuppyM wait for theirs at the counter. Too small to see over it, too eager to stand still. They jump up, catching fleeting sight of their ice-cream as well as the employee working on it, who can't fight the smile when she sees them— or, well, their ears as gravity pulls them back down. A happy seed is planted everywhere their little paws touch, with strong roots and a vibrant green.
Other customers coo: how cute!
They pick out a table near the windows and spend close to an hour stealing spoonfuls of each other's flavors until all that's left is melted leftovers on the corners of their mouths. Swaddled in laughter, howls and barks, it feels like the perfect memory. Chan pulls out his phone and snaps a few pictures from weird angles, trying to be sneaky. He wants to catch them in their natural glow, showing off beautiful smiles and unfiltered skin.
"Woof!"
He startles, taking one last blurry photo as the device slips from his fingers and into his lap. PuppyM flies his paws up to his mouth and shakes with barely contained giggles that Chan can't help but match fondly— called out by someone who can't even reach his hips, again. Seungmin struggles to keep his own laughter at bay, but when Chan joins, he lets go as well.
"Just take a selfie," He says, scooting a bit closer. Wolfie and PuppyM have their funny faces prepared in a second. "You should be in them, too."
With the back of his neck feeling scalding hot, Chan complies. The framing captures all of their faces in full, but the mess of napkins, tiny plastic spoons and half-eaten cones on the table doesn't stay behind. When Seungmin points it out with a whine— no, wait, let me clean up— Chan stops him with a hand on his shoulder. I wanted to be candid! This is candid! They still take a new one per his request, but this time PuppyM shows his butt instead of his face. The third take is for laughing at Seungmin's shocked expression when he spots the trick through the screen.
Having so much fun in a day is the key to a good night's sleep. By the time Chan is done zipping up Wolfie's jacket to go back home, his tiny friend is already halfway into a dream. His eyelids get even more droopy when Chan picks him up and settles him on his shoulders, holding onto Wolfie's ankles for a secure grip. He puts his paws under Chan's chin and leans his head against the curls, sighing into the familiar scent. PuppyM melts into Seungmin's embrace just the same, and they start their walk back with their bellies and chests full of something sweet.
"I liked spending time with you," Seungmin drops without warning on their stop outside Howl In Harmony, where they've got to part ways. It sends Chan's heart into a frenzied gallop. Seungmin places a hand on PuppyM's back to feel the tranquil rise and fall of his body under his palm, then briefly nuzzles his nose against soft fur. "We both did."
Ah. Chan internally scolds himself for thinking anything different, putting on a smile instead of dissolving into a puddle of shame like he so badly wants to do. "It was really fun."
"We should do this more often," Seungmin says, eyes shiny and sincere. Things would be a lot easier if those pupils didn't catch the light— artificial, from the sun, from the moon— so perfectly each time. "What do you think?"
"Yeah, uh…" Chan gulps. More than a teeny tiny dose of this per week could eventually become a bigger problem. Will he be strong enough to deal with it? "Yeah, sure. We'd love that."
Seungmin grins. "See you on Monday!"
"See you."
He can feel a pool of Wolfchans drool spilling over and trailing down the side of his head. It's a bit gross, but not the first time it happens. This time, however, he interprets it as a warning sign and feels like he deserves it.
He'll take a quick shower when he gets home.
.
Changbin peeks into the living room in all of his bed-haired, puffy-faced glory. The wrinkles in his blankets have left marks all over his skin, betraying one hell of a nap. “Bunny? What’s that noise?”
Minho pinches the bridge of his nose. “Channie’s trying to give himself a concussion, Bin.”
“I’m—" Smack. Forehead to wall, not hard enough for the outcome Minho predicts, but with the kind of force that will hopefully get some oxygen flowing back into his brain. “Disgusting.”
Minho pillows the next headbutt with his hand, growing impatient. “Could you elaborate?”
“I want to take Seungmin on a date.”
Absolute crickets. Changbin blinks, glances over his shoulder and considers returning to bed where Dwaekki can be heard snoring still. In the end, the string of friendship tugs harder than the one connecting him to the warm sheets. He pads further away from the room, stretch-yawning past the other two men and into the kitchen.
“What you are,” Changbin starts it off like someone about to spread wisdom people should gather around for. Leebit and Wolfie trail after him, latching onto his legs so he has to waddle with the extra weight the rest of the way. His levels of credibility go down considerably. “is a bisexual man. In case you hadn't noticed."
He has. Especially in the last few weeks. How could he not, when Seungmin is all that he is? Incredibly smart, bellyache funny, drop-dead beautiful. It's dangerous to be around such a combination on a normal day— try doing so when you're irrevocably attracted to the guy. Chan doesn't know how many spare aprons he has left to replace the ones he dries his overly clammy hands on. Laundry day is just a whirl of black fabric and golden thread these days. They don't dry up fast enough.
"Did you change perfumes?" Seungmin asked him once, leaning into his space to get a good sniff of the new scent. "You smell wonderful."
Thanks, Chan thought to himself. It's soap. The label says I'm a walking botanical rain.
"I don't even see what the problem is," Minho says. He lets his hand hover between Chan's skull and the wall, then pulls it off when he's sure he won't keep it up. "Just take him on the goddamned date."
"He's my employee," Chan whines. "That's so wrong."
Minho throws his hands up and walks away before he kicks him out of his house. Like, literally. Foot to ass, right in the center if there's good aim. "No one cares! Not even Seungmin himself!"
"True," Changbin chimes in, popping up with two steamy cups of hot chocolate. He hands one to Minho and pecks him on the lips. I got it from here. "He can't take his eyes off of you when you tie the apron extra tight. I've seen it."
Chan had assumed he'd gone crazy the first time he felt the stare and traced it back to Seungmin. Nayeon's friend, Sana, had been there as well, and he usually hears her giggle whenever his muscles flex. Maybe he'd mixed it up. Maybe Changbin had, as well.
"He doesn't."
Minho tilts his cup back and keeps his mouth busy so he won't say what he really thinks. Changbin gives Chan the second one, then crosses his arms over his chest. "Ask anyone else, Channie. He does."
From the tips of his fingers, tapping made-up patterns on the ceramic, and down toward his belly, an electrifying current tickles its way through. It would make things ten times better and worse at the same time, but he can't deny that he wants it to be true— the possibility of lingering looks he hasn't noticed, touches that may not be so accidental, smiles that could be meant just for him. Of course he wants it. As time goes on, it gets harder to pretend that he doesn't.
Holding back forever isn't an option. Minho snaps his fingers and makes sure Chan's eyes are fully on him before talking. “Ask. Him. That's the only way you'll get a real answer."
Chan sighs. Realistically, he knows that's what it takes, that it's a conversation people have all the time and all over the world. It still doesn't make it any easier or less nerve-wracking to face.
"Channie," Minho calls him softly. He purses his lips and shifts his eyes all over the room, like he does every time he's about to say something heartfelt. "You deserve good things. When you're together, you and Seungmin… remind me of Bin and I, before," He licks his lips, lets the silence sit for a second. "He's a good thing."
Minho hears the teasing baby-voice coming from a mile away and immediately puts his hands up to shield against Chan's bear-hug. All the commotion wakes Dwaekki up. He walks in and follows a beeline that leads straight to Minho's lap, forcing a pause in their game so he can settle comfortably against his chest.
On the way home, Chan thinks about taking a chance.
.
does seungmin have access to this email
Hi, Kyujin. No, it's just me here.
ok good i was going to call u a loser for dropping that croissant when he reached for it at the same time
like it was embarrassing and i see lily trip over her own feet when haewon comes into view every. single. day
Whatever happened to respecting your elders?
whatever happened to giving teenagers a job?
I've been thinking about it.
I will talk to your parents first, but you can do deliveries on the weekend if that's something you'd like.
No school days. I don't want this to mess up your grades. You should focus on studying!
YOU GOT IT BOSS
does that mean i get an apron
PLEASE i want one even if im not behind the counter
Of course!
omg
i will no longer call you a loser for crushing on seungmin i PROMISE 🤞
Do you think he knows I like him?
from what i can tell… 🕵🏼
he hopes so
i say go get him!!!!!
🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈… See more.
.
PuppyM and Wolfie run around the house while Chan and Seungmin lounge on the couch, wine glasses half-full and swaying in their hands. This isn’t professional, either, Chan thinks. But regarding Seungmin as a friend has never felt wrong— they’ve outgrown the title of coworkers, at this point, become so much more than. It had started as a do it for the kids kind of thing, hanging out in places where PuppyM and Wolfie could let out some energy, have fun together without the constraints of limited space. They saw each other in playgrounds, green parks, for daily walks around town.
Then Seungmin took the leap.
“Why don’t you two come over for dinner?” He said, as Chan locked the doors and pulled down the front blinds. Wolfchan howled his positive response before his human could even finish processing the invitation. “I’m making pizza tonight.”
His roommate, Jisung, introduced himself with the brightest smile Chan had ever seen and spent most of the night making him laugh until he cried, dropping jokes that were new to him but evidently over-used in Seungmin’s presence, who only sat back and fondly watched as they bonded. HanQuokka, Jisung’s companion, quickly became the last piece in PuppyM’s and Wolfie’s puzzle, forming a golden trio they had trouble separating at the end of the night.
Officially introducing Seungmin to Minho was a different thing— he was the opponent Chan and Changbin could never be. Seungmin matched his pace without breaking a sweat, had a quip ready on the tip of his tongue for every cleverly sarcastic line. For the first time since Chan had met him, Minho faltered, took an extra second to answer when he's usually the sharpest, the quickest. Seungmin left with well-earned respect and a promise for more playful antagonizing whenever Minho's turn to pick up his and Changbin's order came around, which meant long-lasting friendship in fewer words.
Now, at Chan's place, it's just them. Seungmin has pulled off his sweater with slightly pink cheeks, and he sits with his shirt dipping down a shoulder, dangerously askew. Wine makes them run hot, but Chan's want boils. All he can think about is that patch of skin revealed, the bony knee atop his own. There's plenty of space— when did they get so close? It feels good. He feels good.
Seungmin is a good thing.
"Sorry if this is, like. Inappropriate?" Chan starts, tongue loose thanks to the courage a couple drinks have given him. Seungmin hums to signal he's got his attention. "But you're so pretty it's distracting. Seriously."
Seungmin giggles softly as a darker red blooms on his face and ears. "How's that inappropriate?"
"I'm… your boss," Chan explains weakly.
"And?" Seungmin asks without missing a beat. He lays it down clear and simple, and suddenly it's a no-brainer. And? And? Chan feels truly enlightened when it finally clicks. God, his friends were right. And? "Oh. Oh, my— Chan," Seungmin quickly settles his glass on the small coffee table and then sits on his heels, facing him directly. "Is that the reason why you haven't asked me out yet?"
Chan gestures vaguely with his free hand, looking anywhere else but at Seungmin's eyes. "I didn't think it was, like, morally right."
For a brief moment, all that can be heard is PuppyM and Wolfie tussling for some toy in the next room. Then a thud. Then true howling laughter.
"So I wasn't imagining things," Seungmin says.
Whatever he has in mind, it's highly probable that he wasn't. Still, Chan prods: "Like what?"
"You, looking at me. Blushing around me," Seungmin begins listing. Chan goes pink at that moment, as well. Check, check. "Tying that apron extra right on purpose."
Chan denies the only accusation he has any defense for. "I only do it like that so it won't come undone later."
"Well, it's the best part of my day," Seungmin admits. Chan laughs with his eyes closed, shying from the sincerity in his voice, the weight of his stare. "I'd really love it if you took me out for dinner sometime, boss."
"Don't call me that," Chan whines.
Even without looking, the smirk is evident. "Yes, sir."
"Seungmin," He tries to sound annoyed, but it's impossible to mask his smile when the faintest pull on his mouth calls his dimples into action.
Seungmin reaches for them with gentle fingertips, tracing lines on his skin until he decides to take the wine out of Chan's hands and guide him into the real target, what they've unknowingly been chasing together all this time. The aftertaste of alcohol is bitter, but Seungmin pressing satisfied little noises against Chan's lips every time they meet fills in for all the sweet missing. Capital first letters, definite article— kissing Seungmin might as well be The Good Thing that reigns over any other.
For once, Chan might allow himself to be selfish. He wants this— Seungmin's hands in his hair, the excited beat of his heart present against Chan's sternum— for a long, long time. Five seconds ago, he knew only what it was like to wish. In another five, he'll fully replace it with the pleasure of having, forgetting about there ever being a before.
"We're allowed to do this with customers around, right?" Seungmin wonders out loud as they part, a slight frown pulling on his eyebrows. Chan smoothes it out with a loud muack to his forehead. "Like, here and there. Because if not, we're gonna have to add a few breaks just for kissing."
Chan laughs. "Now who's boss?"
.
PuppyM and Seungmin eventually get their own frame at Howl I'm Harmony's wall of memories, and so does the selfie that PuppyM photobombed with his butt. Kyujin posts it all on Instagram, to the account she still runs behind Chan's back.
Fashion influencer I.N gives them a like and causes another chaotic rush. This time, there's an even bigger team ready to serve the best coffee in town.