#aracna

"Coffee? Black? No sugar?" You asked as he was about to open his mouth.

"Yes!" He said brows raised in surprise. "Are you a mind reader now? Or do I look that awful?"

Awful wasn't the right word. Actually, the perpetually worn-out look was very becoming of him. "You look tired," you said with a small smile.

He eyed himself on the counter glass and gasped as if he'd just discovered his reflection. "Well, that's a nice way to put it." He said pulling down on his eye bags.  

"You look dead Ilya, at least tuck in your shirt," Asra said shaking their head and preparing the coffee behind me.

"Good morning to you too!" Julian rolled his eyes and fixed his shirt. "I've been up all night. If you must know." He runs his hand through his hair trying to fix it.

"Busy with your research, Doctor?" You ask handing him his order.

"Yes. Thanks for asking." He said looking at Asra who shook their head. "I'm so close to a breakthrough I can almost taste it." His eyes light up as he thinks about his work.

Asra reaches over the counter and hands Julian his coffee. "Would you like anything else? We got some pumpkin bread yesterday."

"That does sound tempting, gorgeous." He smiled but then backed away as Asra reached your side with a bit of a death glare in their eyes. "But just the coffee is fine." he said handing you his payment.

"You're scaring the customers." You teased Asra as Julian sat by the window to read his newspaper.

"I couldn't scare him away if I tried." Asra smiled wrapping their arms around you from behind. You let him hold you feeling his warmth on your back.

Just then two women marched their way to the door. Nadia and Portia, you realize, as Asra lets you go. "I'll prepare their usual orders," Asra says as Nadia makes her way to the counter. She takes off her cat-eye shape sunglasses and her beautiful red eyes stare into yours.

"Good morning." You breathe out. "The usual?"

"Naturally." She smiles and turns to Portia who stands behind her holding a large binder. "The usual for you too, Portia?"

"Yes! Oh got anything tasty today?" She asks ogling the glass counter filled with pastries.

"We just got some pumpkin bread and we also have chamomille cakes." You say trying to remember the inventory you just reviewed an hour before.

"Ooooh! Both of those are good! I'll take the pumpkin bread." She says her mouth visibly watering.

"Coming right up!" You smile. turning to Arsa who hands you their orders.

"Tell me, how are things going around here?" Nadia asks before taking a sip of her cappuccino. Though she looks at you, you know the question is for Asra. There was no way you could report on the state of things if you lived one day at a time.

"Things are alright, nothing but the usual trouble," Asra reports.

"What about, you-know-who?" Nadia asked with a sour tone, her eyes narrowing with the memory of something unpleasant.

"He hasn't shown up, yet. But I'm sure he will eventually." Asra says their voice equally distasteful.

You look at Portia who paces uncomfortably eyeing both Nadia and Asra. You're half tempted to ask about who they are talking about, but just then Nadia just shakes her head and sighs.

"Thank you, love. Let me know when he decides to show his dumb face around here. Portia, we got work to do." She says before strutting to her usual table with Portia hurrying behind her.

They seem to settle into their usual work routine, chatting and looking over some paperwork and occasionally getting a refill of their beverages.

You write yourself a note about this secretive and suspicious behavior and post it on your work binder.

***

The hours pass by as swift as rush hour and other customers come and go. Dr. Devorak has long gone back to his lab at the hospital and Nadia and Portia have left to continue whatever it is they do while they work. It is later in the afternoon and you've closed and reopened the shop as you do every day, except on Sundays when it's closed.

Asra is on their fourth lapsang souchong relaxing on the nearest table near the counter while you're cleaning the wide windows. Suddenly a giant man rings the door chime as he enters. You can't help but stop your cleaning to stare up at him. He notices you staring and looks away uncomfortably pulling on the straps of his dark green hoodie. Asra rises from their position and heads to their place behind the counter smiling.

"Hey, Muriel! How was your day?" Asra asks.

"The wolves were rowdy today." He responds quietly despite his beep thundering voice.

"How's Inanna?" You ask finishing up the windows trying to not be so awkward.

"I bathed her today. But as soon as I finished she ran through the mud." He replies not meeting your eyes. You don't really blame him after you so rudely stared at him as he came in.

"I feel the same way about the shop's floor." Asra laughs. "One minute it's clean and the next you have to start all over."

"What can we get for you today?" You ask before Arsa goes on a rant.

Muriel glances at the clock and nods "Mead." He sits on his usual booth in the back and pulls out a novel. He flips through the pages casually nursing his drink.

A few other customers come and go, but the night settles to quiet routine. You get a few moments of peace before Asra lets out a soft gasp. "Oh great, here we go," they whisper under their breath.

A blond man makes his way to the door throwing his weight with every step. A smirk sits on his lips as his eyes meet yours. "Wine," he orders heading to the booth by the window. He casually throws his leather jacket behind his shoulder. This must be Lucio.

"Take this one and I'll let you wear my crop top!" Asra begs making a puppy face.

"Hmmm, the super cute pink one that says 'BABY' on it?" You tease.

"Which other?" They say glancing at Lucio.

"Deal!" You smile. Taking a deep breath and filling up a glass of wine.

"About time! What took you so long?" He whines and immediately takes a sip.

"Sorry for the wait. Can I offer you anything else?" you smile sweetly trying to appease him.

"How about a kiss?" He says leaning towards your face with a smirk.

You back away and give him a polite smile. "How about something on the menu instead?"

"Eh, just keep the wine coming." He settles back into his seat.

You make your way to the counter and notice that Arsa is talking to Muriel who is trying to take up the least amount of space possible.

"--she must have some score she needs to settle with him. She said she was on her way." you hear Asra tell Muriel in a hushed tone.

"I should leave before things escalate," Muriel whispers.

"What's the secrecy?" You ask in an equally hushed voice when you reach them. "Should I make a note about it?"

"Oh no, it's nothing for you to worry about," Asra says putting their arm around you and giving you a peck on the cheek.

You narrow your eyes, feeling excluded, but welcome Asra's kisses.  Before you can ask another question Muriel gasps looking out the windows. "She's here."

You look outside and see Nadia strutting across the door eyes fixed on Lucio who flinches upon seeing her. He straightens himself up after a good long sip of his wine and when she's within reach, he smiles charismatically. "Noddy, you're a sight for sore eyes."

"I wish I could say the same." She huffs. "You and I need to talk. Come outside, please."

"But it's so comfortable here. Have a seat. I'll order you some wine. You like white, right?"

Nadia glances in your direction and shakes her head. "No. We're not having this conversation here."

"You don't want wine? How about some daiquiris?" Lucio says before taking another sip.

"No. Talk with me outside, please." She says, now clearly irritated.

"But I haven't finished my glass." Lucio whines.

Nadia rips the glass from his hand and drinks the rest. "OUTSIDE NOW" She screams calmly between her teeth. Lucio blinks twice before finally rising from his seat and then follows her outside.

You can't really hear what she's screaming about but she looks clearly upset. Lucio, on the other hand, looks totally aggravated and seems to be defending himself.

You glance at Muriel and Arsa as you three watch the spectacle awkwardly, all of you wondering what it could be about. After some more arguing, Nadia waltzes in taking a deep breath and straightened her blazer.

"Sorry about that darlings, I'll be taking that scoundrel with me for the night. How much for his glass?" she asks completely returning to her usual self. She pays for the drink and makes her way outside dragging Lucio with her.

"Is anyone going to explain to me what just happened?" You ask still shocked.

Asra shrugs and scratches the back of their neck and Muriel stands "I should be going."

"See you tomorrow, Muriel." Asra hugs him. Muriel hugs him back a small smile on his face.

"Sooo that's a no?" You cross your arms watching them a tiny hint of jealousy rising in your chest. Asra looks at you as Muriel leaves.

"Bye, Muriel." You say right before he crosses the door, but your eyes are still on Asra.

They sigh and take your hands "Look, I know you don't like when I don't explain things to you. But, I honestly don't know what that was about. I have my suspicions, but I don't know for sure. And whatever that was is not my secret to tell." Their violet eyes gaze into yours and you know they are being sincere.

You sigh knowing he is right. "Yeah, it's none of my business."

"If you're that curious I could ask Nadi about it tomorrow. And I promise to tell you all about it, if she does spill the beans." They smile rubbing your enclosed hands with their thumbs.

"You would?" You smile.

"For you? Of course!" They say pulling you into a hug.

"You won't forget to tell me about it, right?" you whisper into their ear.

"Nope. I'll remember for the both of us." They pull away and wink at you. Their dimples make an appearance as they smile at you. Even though they've pulled away from the hug you're still standing close enough to hear them breathe.

"I love you." You tell them.

"I love you too." Their hands making their way to your face. Their hands caress your cheek softly before pulling you into a kiss.

You welcome their soft lips on yours and accidentally let out a small moan. Asra stops enough to giggle and soon countless minutes are lost while you kiss them. They finally pull away and smile, their face slightly red.

"Come on, I think it's time we closed shop." Asra again giggles before pulling you into one last warm kiss.

***

You make your way back into your apartment exhausted.

"I'm beat!" You say collapsing your tired body face-first onto the bed.

"Tell me about it." Asra collapses on top of you. You groan as the weight of their body settles on top of yours. They're heavy but it feels nice, you're about to doze off in that position but Arsa suddenly jumps off the bed.

"Oh, I forgot! We need to do laundry now. Like right now! I'm out of clean jeans for work tomorrow." they say rushing to the laundry basket.

"Well, you could just wear your apron... and nothing else." You tease.

"Oh? Harboring fantasies are we?" Their dimples appearing again with their smile. Asra pulls you in for a tight hug and places a kiss on your cheek.

"Maybe?" You laugh before he releases you.  You help him gather up the rest of the clothes, but you can feel their gaze on you.

"Take off your overalls I'll wash those too," Asra says.

You turn away and begin to strip. You hear them laugh. "First you tease me and now you're shy? You're always a box of surprises."

You hand him your overalls, your face red. Asra takes them but soon tosses them to the ground before pulling you into a kiss. "You're the cutest," they whisper.

You feel a little disappointed when they pull away taking all their warmth with them. You sigh and put on your sleepwear as they finish putting in the load. You wrap yourself in the covers and feel Arsa join you on the bed.

"Goodnight. Don't forget to remember me in the morning," they whisper in your ear.

"I won't" You smile finally letting your exhaustion take over you. You fall asleep with the tiny notion that you forgot to post the sticky notes of your overall on your wall.

Don't leave or live without Arsa in the morning.

The note had said, but it had been lost to the waters of the washing machine. But none of it seems to matter as Asra holds you tight as you sleep.

***