"I don't know why you insist on staying when you can't stand this place, Luka."
"It's not the place I can't stand, it's the people that come here," he replied as he sat on a stool
"Well, it pays the bills," Nora countered as he continued to dress behind a partition, "and where I live isn't exactly cheap, you know?"
"Neither are those clothes you buy," Luka added. "Speaking of which, are you done yet?
"Come help me."
"What?"
"Come. Help. Me."
"With what?"
"Just come help me! I'm already running later, and whose fault is that?"
"Alright, alright. I said I was sorry, damn."
"Yet somehow I don't believe you." To that, the green-eyed man gave a half-assed shrug. "Just hurry up and help me."
"Ok,ok!"
Walking around the cover, Luka glanced at the clothes folded and placed in a neat pile before staring at the laces presented to him. Rolling his eyes, he began to weaving them through the eyelets before pulling them tighter. Once finished, he tied up the ends prior to shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Anything else, your Highness?"
"That will be all, peasant."
Trudging back over to his chair, Luka propped his head up in his hand as he watched the long hand of the clock tick by. "You're going to be late…later."
"I'm just about done," Nora replied. "Get out, Luka."
"What, no please?" Dodging a shoe, Luka shook his head. "That's the thanks I get for-"
Evading another shoe, Luka walked to the door. "Ok, ok. I'm leaving, jeez."
Shutting the door behind him, the raven leaned against the door waiting for his friend. Roughly six minutes later, Luka straightened when he heard the door opening. Taking a step back as a long, black boot-clad stepped forward, the man watched as a petite woman came out into the hall. Her long black was plaited and adorned with white ribbon while several looser strands cradled the sides of her face. A lacy, white and black bonnet sat proudly at the top of her head whereas a matching choker rested around their neck. The dress was short, stopping just before the wearer's knees and black in color. It was lacy along the sides and tapered down to a small waist line. Long sleeves clung to equally long and lean arms before the ends of the fabric fell off in billowing ruffles. To offset the dark color, a white and ruffled apron hung down front while the ribbons to help keep it on was tied into a large bow, the tails of which hung just shy of the dress's hemming.
Watching as she stepped out, tucking a feather duster into the belt of the apron, Luka stepped into the room, looking about before hearing the tapping of a boot.
"Luka, c'mon. Must you do that every time?"
Looking back at the raven girl, Luka just shrugged his shoulders as he pulled the door shut behind him. "Not my fault you look like a girl."
"A pretty one at that," Nora added as he adjusted the skirt of the dress.
"I wouldn't say all that," Luka replied as he followed behind his friend.
"Well, I'm not recognizable, right?"
"Well, no."
"Then that's all that matters," the once blonde-haired man said as he waltzed into the main room of the serving area.
"Nor-"
"Shut up and take a seat," he hissed under his breath. "It's time for me to work."
"But-"
"Sit d-"
"Nora~!"
"Hi, dearie!" he chirped happily, voice hitting an octave or two higher than it originally was. "Sorry, I'm late."
"Nonsense," a redheaded maid called from the front counter. "You're just in time really. The customers haven't co-"
"Good morning!" Nora said with a smile as he waved at pair of businessmen that happened to walk through the door. "Welcome back, you two!"
"Hey, Nora," the one in grey replied as he took a seat. "The usual please."
"Sam, can you get that please?"
The one dubbed Sam nodded before hurrying away into the back room. Seeing how the help went to take care of the order, Nora made his way over to the two newcomers prior to leaning forward, his elbows on the table top and chin in his newly manicured hands.
"How've you been, Nora?" the one in grey asked as he sat his brief case down.
"Fantastic, but care to tell me who your cute friend is?" The one in black merely looked away, a dash of embarrassment darting across his features. "Aww, no need to be shy, hun," Nora said as he slid into the seat next to him. "Care to tell me your name, cutie?" he added as he toyed with the end of the man's tie. "Well?"
"M-M…Michael."
"Well, M-M...Michael, mind if I call you Mikey?" The man shook his head furiously as the maid twirled a slender finger around dark strands of hair. "Fantastic," Nora replied as he stood back up. "Be sure to come back real soon if you like the service." He offered a smile, showing white teeth behind lightly painted lips, before sauntering away. He stopped, however when he felt a hand tug at the back of his apron. Turning, he swiftly knocked the hand away before giggling childishly. "Touching costs you extra, you know?" A smile then flitted across the amiable raven's face as he pointed to the one stationed across the café. "That and my friend may not like it too much."
Following the blue eyes, both business men took note of the man that was sitting at the counter. With the somewhat dark, baggy jeans and a dark knit t-shirt, the one sitting quietly didn't look like much, just trouble. Seeing how he didn't seem to pay much attention, the one in grey merely shook his head before setting down a few hundreds.
"Well, since it'd cost extra, how's this?"
Nora merely shook his head before turning away. "I'll be right back with your coffee." When he came back, he stared at the numerous bills placed on the lacquered tabletop. "Um, what's this?"
"Well, touching costs extra."
The maid merely wagged a finger before offering a smile. "It was a joke. There will be no touching."
"But-"
"No," Nora replied sternly as he turned to walk away.
"I can change your mind surely," the man stated as he grabbed the worker by the wrist.
Getting to his feet when the maid tried pulling away, Luka walked over, snagging Nora by the waist. As green eyes stared at the businessman in grey, the raven said nothing but held the other man by the waist tighter.
"You know, he said no, right?" Luka stated more so than asked as he looked down at the one he was holding.
"Mind your…" Dark eyes went towards the man. "…own business…?"
Smirking when the rest appeared to die off into somewhat of a question, the expression died off when the raven managed to pull Nora's wrist back. "You see, this is why I don't like people like you," he said. "Always trying to take what's mine." The one in costume shivered slightly at the two fingers walking along his shoulder before blushing when his chin was tilted up. "You're mine, yes?" Luka asked, giving another half-smile. "Go on and say it."
Nora's face darkened several more shades. "I-I can't say that!"
"So you deny it?"
"N…no, but-"
"You're so cute," Luka said before he looked back at the one in grey. "Take your money and beat it." Reaching into his back pocket, he withdrew a flick knife and ran the blade across his friend's neck in a teasingly slow fashion. "You see, because if you don't leave, I'll get mad and you wouldn't want that," he added as he pointed the small blade at the man. "Nora's mine. That being said, get lost already." A content smile then spread across the raven's face as the man got to his feet, collecting his money as well as threatening him with cops and such before he stormed out the café. His attention then went towards the man that was sipping his coffee nervously. "As for you, when you're finished, get the hell out and don't come back with that guy again. You got that?"
The man in black nodded quickly before placing a few bills on the table. Giving a quick farewell and a rushed apology to the one dressed as a maid, he then hurried out the door with his briefcase.
After losing sight of both customers, Nora exhaled heavily before throwing a smile at his friend. "Thanks, L-"
Pushing the other away, Luka went back to the counter and took a seat once more. "Idiot."
"Why did you shove me?!"
"For being a damn idiot."
"How am I an idiot?!"
"The dress, the makeup, the demeanor." Blue eyes narrowed as the man resumed drinking his coffee. "Shall I continue?"
"Well, excuse me for looking nice in a dress!" Green eyes glanced his way before facing forward again. "You know I do. Say it."
"Ok; you look nice in a dress."
"I don't believe you."
"Well, I expected that much."
"Then why'd you-"
"I said it because you told me to," Luka answered before the question was finished. "We end up in a conversation like this every time I come here. Now, if you wanna be a man-lady, that's fine by me as long as I can keep getting coffee."
"Lu-" Seeing an empty mug being presented, Nora snatched it in a huff before rounding a counter. "Ungrateful bastard."
"I could say the same to you. Now get me some coffee, you can at least thank me for saving your butt, yet again, by doing that much."
"Yeah, yeah."
Resting his chin in his hand, the raven watched as his friend began to make the usual morning drink the way he liked it before having it set down with somewhat of an unnecessary amount of force. Going to comment on it, he held his tongue as he heard the chiming of the café's bell.
"Welcome back~!"
"Good morning, Nora dear."
That voice…!
Whirring around in his chair, he looked to see just a passing man that he had not seen before. Watching as he took a seat, Luka faced forward when he began to look his way. Noting the sunglasses from the corner of his eye, Luka turned his head slightly the moment the man lowered his glasses. Green eyes widened slightly when they caught sight of the encircled star that was tattooed over the man's left eye. Gawking somewhat, he didn't notice that the man was watching him as well until he finally took the time to blink. Emerald was then met with a cherry flecked with an iridescent gold. As the raven-haired man came bounding over, smile in place, Luka snagged a hold of the worker's wrist before pulling him over.
"What are you doing?" Nora growled as he tried to get his wrist free. "Let go!"
"Don't go near him," Luka ordered quietly.
"I'm working. It's my job and my job requires me to go over there."
"Don't-"
"Excuse me."
"Coming," Nora called as he swatted the oppressive hand away. "If you don't want to see me work, no one is making you stay, idiot."
Seeing the maid hurry over, Luka kept close on the man with the odd-colored gaze before tensing when the irregular eyes shifted his way once more. Averting his gaze, he then watched as a brunette came waltzing out of the restroom that was located on the other side of the café. Seeing a smile begin to stretch across his face, the dark-haired man tensed considerably when the other put a finger to his lips as he signaled the other to remain quiet. The customer's attention then went towards the worker that was in the process of serving up a cup of coffee.
"Nora dear!"
"Welcome back, Azazel~!" came the too cheery reply as Nora held the serving tray to his chest. 814Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e4QD7gZhF
"How are you today?"
"Quite well, thanks! Will it be the usual?"
"Ah, you know me so well, dear."
"I'll be right back."
Watching him leave, the newcomer turned his attention towards the raven that was watching him from the counter. "Well, don't be a stranger," Azazel said as he signaled him over.
"Why are you here?" Luka questioned heatedly as he stormed over. "Get out."
The one with red eyes rose slowly from his seat prior to be stopped by the brunette. "Well, that's not very nice. We're just customers partaking in a delicious cup of coffee. Is that so wrong?"
"Yes, get out."
"I can't do that," Azazel said with a shrug. "You see, I must watch my investments."
"Your invest-get out!"
"Is there a problem?" Nora asked as he set down a container of creamer and sugar.
"Ye-"
"Not at all," Azazel interjected with a smile. "Everything is fine. I was just having a chat with my good friend here. Isn't that right, Luka dear?" Green eyes narrowed slightly. "He was just talking about how'd he help me out with a few things."
"Really; like what?" the one in costume asked, glancing at his tenser friend.
"You know, just a bit of this and that." The one with sunglasses merely stated with a one-shouldered shrug. "Things to help a friend is all."
Blue eyes went towards the one still standing. "Is that true, Luka?"
Said person just eyed the smiling man in sunglasses. "Yeah…something like that, Nora…"
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