Doe & Bean Cont. - pastry chef shua x reader. barista jun has no sense of personal boundaries and adopts anyone he decides is worth befriending. this is entirely crack so far. i can't promise that will not continue.
The next time you pop into the café you find Minghao at the register again, this time with a stressed looking Joshua running around behind the counter. The barista looks cool and composed as ever while his boss's smile is so strained you don't know how he's still holding his polite little greetings to every guest together. It's busier than you think you've seen the place yet. Minghao looks perfect but Joshua's apron hangs at an angle and he sports streaks of flour across one cheek. When you make it up to the front of the line it's finally slowed a little. Jun slides behind the counter to join the chaos just as your turn to order arrives and he swaps places with Minghao, smiling widely as he recognizes you.
“So, how did the house special work out for you?”
You smile back, shaking your head. “It was perfect.”
Jun nods. “I knew you could handle it. What can I get for you today?”
You consider for a second. “Can I get a Jun special?”
He glances over his shoulder. Minghao is working efficiently, getting through drinks with practiced efficiency. He shoos Joshua into the back after the flustered man gets in his way for the third time and Jun nods.
“Only if you promise not to tell Shua hyung.”
You grin and hold out a pinky. “Promise.”
It turns out the Jun special is a little lighter on the coffee than you expected, which works out perfectly today. The crowd dies down as you sit at a corner table and get through some of the latest book you picked up but haven't had a chance to really get into this week. By the time you look up again the sun sits lower on the horizon and Jun has made his way over to clean up the table next to yours.
“Oh, you're with us again.”
You can’t help the smile as he startles a little when he notices you've closed your book.
“Mm, it looks like the rush ended.”
He nods. “About twenty minutes ago.”
You look around. There are a few people settled into tables or seated by the window, and a customer or two milling about the counter but it's much calmer than it was when you first walked in.
“Is it always like this?”
Jun shrugs. “At this hour, usually. You tend to stop by before we get busy.”
You nod, that makes sense. Your work hours often have you arriving between the early risers and the 9am rush. Not that you've been here that often, yet, but you have a feeling you're going to become a regular. The coffee is good, the baked goods are great, and the staff keep you entertained even on tough mornings.
“Do you always work the morning shift?”
He shakes his head. “I work most mornings but sometimes Hao covers if I'm busy or he likes certain weekdays. Something about it being peaceful being awake before the sun while everyone is still sleeping.”
Your smile grows at his admission. “Is Minghao not exactly a people person then? He seems friendly enough.”
Jun grins and shakes his head. “Hao… loves what he does and he reciprocates how you treat him but he doesn't put up with bullshit customers and he has no patience for people who can't use their critical thinking.”
“So, in other words, he hates stupid questions and entitlement.”
Jun nods. “You could say that.”
You consider this. “And Joshua? He seems nice but a lot more easily frazzled than the two of you.”
Jun laughs. “Shua hyung, he’s too nice for his own good. Not always, don’t get me wrong, he can be as politely rude as Hao when he needs to but he’s generally a sweetheart unless you start something first. He opened this place because he loves to bake, so he's usually in the back and he's great with people so the customers love him but he's not exactly used to the rush.”
You nod. “Uh huh, so he makes all the tasty treats you sell?”
Jun moves to lean one hip against the side of your table. “Yup, bakes them fresh daily.”
“And his charm is the only reason he's popular with the customers?” You raise a brow at this.
Jun just grins. “It’s part of the appeal. He's popular with customers for the same reasons people keep coming in for a five second interaction with Hao even when they're brushed off and he forgets their names.”
You laugh, glancing over to where Minghao is finishing up an order for two elderly ladies who are absolutely cooing over him. It's easy to see why. He's patient with them, his smile easy today and even with his hair pulled back into a ponytail he's gorgeous. You turn back to Jun.
“What would you recommend today?”
He blinks at you. “Well, no more coffee for starters, but if you want to get something to eat probably the strawberry tart. Shua's been testing it for weeks and we can't seem to figure out exactly what it's missing but maybe you could help?”
You nod, slipping the book back into your bag. “I would be happy to. Do you always taste test new creations before they go out to customers?”
He nods, stepping back so you can stand. “Shua's a little bit of a perfectionist.”
You smile softly. “That… feels like it makes sense from the little that I know about him.”
Jun just takes your hand and steers you back behind the counter. “Trust me, you'll get it in a minute.”
Minghao blinks at you as Jun drags you past him towards a door to the kitchen but doesn’t say a word. He just lifts one perfect eyebrow and when Junhui grins in response he sighs but moves aside to let you both through.
“What was that about?”
“Oh don't worry about him, he's just dramatic.”
You're not worried but you are a little wary. You really shouldn't be back here and despite how friendly he seems, you don't know Junhui well enough yet to call him a friend. Or to have earned friend privileges.
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“Trust me y/n.”
You probably shouldn't but he hasn't led you astray yet, so you take the chance. Joshua looks up at you both in surprise as Jun leads you towards the kitchen and back rooms. He steps around a rack full of cooling trays of croissants and a variety of other pastries you can’t identify from here.
“Jun, what is she doing back here?”
It's a reasonable question. You both turn to look at the taller man. He just blinks.
“I told her you needed another opinion on the strawberry tarts.”
Joshua looks between you both, flour still streaked across one cheek, and sighs. “That's true, but you could have asked me to make another batch and brought one out there for her to try once they had cooled.”
You don’t want to get caught in the middle so before Jun can say something that gets you both into more trouble, you step in.
“I'm sorry, I can get out of your way. I didn’t realize I was intruding. Jun said it would be okay but I should have checked with you first.”
You offer an apologetic smile and start to back away, moving to head out through the same hallway you had entered from, when Joshua’s voice stops you. You don’t have to turn to see the exasperation on his face, his sigh says everything his words don't, but you do catch the thumbs up Jun flashes you from behind his back out of the corner of your eye.
“No, no it's not your fault. My meddling employees just refuse to be told how to do absolutely anything.”
The look he flashes Jun is disapproving but somehow still a little fond. The barista just smiles back and eventually, after a very emphatic eyeroll, pats him on the back.
“You already have a batch cooling, don't you hyung?”
Joshua narrows his eyes and squeezes Jun's shoulder. “Luckily for you, yes. Please take her over to the break room and I'll bring one over.”
You blink and Jun takes your arm gently. “Come on, I'll show you to our world renowned tasting room.”
His serious attitude makes you laugh. You flash him a smile and turn to look at Joshua over your shoulder.
“Thank you. And sorry again for interrupting.”
He just shakes his head but there's a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Don’t worry about it, but maybe don't trust Junhui again.”
You nod solemnly. “I'm learning he's absolutely full of terrible ideas.”
Joshua does smile then. “Oh always. Just ask Minghao.”
Jun huffs. “Hey! I'm right here. Not all of my ideas are bad.”
“Sorry, he's full of many bad ideas and a few okay ones. Every once in a blue moon we get one brilliant one but I can't guarantee even those won't come paired with something crazy.”
Jun rolls his eyes and tugs you forward. “Okay. I take it back. Ignore him.”
You're laughing as you follow a sulking Junhui to the break room.
