Chapter Text
A/N: Welcome to my personal work involving my fursonas/ocs, I've been writing this for awhile now so expect more shorts soon!
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It was the late evening for Doppel, finishing his work at the printing shop as he sighed. Today has been stressful for him, lots of thoughts going through his head as he walked back home. Maybe the time wasn’t right for him to push forward, to move out of his comfort zone and leave the shop for more opportunities.
As he continued to walk to the busy streets downtown, he came across a newly opened café, seemingly popping out of nowhere considering that he always walks in this route every day. The neon lights that say Caffeine Marauders sparked interested as he never seen any café naming themselves that.
Entering the café, a soft chime of the bells above the doors rang and a figure looked up from his counter and waved happily. A short, big glasses wearing light blue fox with a gentle smile on his face as he looked up to the feline who was standing awkwardly across the shop.
“Hello! We were about to close but you’re still welcome if you’re planning to order,” the Fox said, his voice as gentle as his smiles were that it couldn’t help but make anyone feel at home at this café.
“Ah, I just saw your café just now and the name was really intriguing so I couldn’t help but check this place out,” Doppel said, rocking back and forth with his heels as he scratched his head slightly bashful and embarrassed.
The Fox let out an amused chuckle, “Ah you’re the fifth customer to say that, I guess the name is really eye-catching after all.”
“The name of the café was based on my friends who all work here together with me, they’re currently off their shift now and I’m the one who’s managing the closing time,” he continued.
“I see,” Doppel said, looking at the short yet slightly built fox as he wiped the counter, blushing as he noticed the slight tense of his muscles.
Despite his nerdy appearance, he looks damn handsome for being one. Doppel thought to himself.
His trance was quickly popped when the fox barista called him, “Hey, you okay there, buddy?”
“I-uh, sorry, I want to order now,” Doppel stuttered but quickly regained composure. The fox looked concerned for a moment before smiling.
“Alright then, tell me what you like-?”
“Doppel, my name is Doppel.”
“What a lovely name for a cat like you, Doppel,” the Fox winked before saying, “the name’s Reece, you know, the candy?”
Usually, Doppel would roll his eyes at the corny joke, but he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
Doppel tried to look at the menu for a good minute, everything seems to be really good but knowing that he couldn’t take much caffeine for being a feline, he just asked, “Can you just surprise me? Everything on this café looks good.”
“Sure thing, you can wait for a bit while I’ll whip you something good, Dops!” Reece grinned, feeling proud of the new nickname he gave to the monochromatic feline.
Doppel sat at one of the tables near the glass window, watching people walk around during their busy days, like him, have their own problems at some point of their lives. He sighed and looked at the interior of the café, everything seems to be in pristine condition, the bright neon lighting and the comfy feeling that the place radiated, he couldn’t help but smile.
The aroma of the drink that Reece was making made Doppel feel even more at ease, and not to mention Reece itself. The fox was charming, charismatic, no wonder customers keep going here aside from such a unique name for a café.
The display of pastries was a sight as well, Doppel hasn’t asked if Reece was the one who made them, pretty sure it’s one of his friends.
The contrast of the outside world and the warmth of the café can be easily felt, like a gateway to escape reality for awhile. He didn’t even need to look at his phone, he just wanted to admire what he sees for once and not glue himself in the screen.
His thoughts were abrupted when Reece called his name, holding out a cup and a paper bag, probably containing some pastry from the display.
“Doppel, here’s your order!” Reece said, smiling as he held out the items.
Doppel walked and was preparing to pay at the counter when Reece stopped him.
“You don’t need to pay, it’s on the house as a new customer,” Reece grinned when Doppel was in shocked.
“W-What? I insist! I’m the last customer for today after all and you were supposed to close earlier!” Doppel said, trying to give the money on Reece but Reece firmly put the money back to Doppel’s pockets making him blush and let out a surprised yelp.
“No, you deserve it, besides you were eyeing on those red velvet cakes, they were made by my friend Pel, you should see him next time, he’s quite a fellow.” Reece said, thrusting the items to Doppel with no room in objecting.
“I think everyone had a rough day and judging how you were walking here tonight, I think you had a rough day at work?” he muttered, making Doppel surprised.
“You’ve been observing me from afar?” the feline said.
“I like observing people, makes me have an idea how I would treat them when they go here, I wanna make a good impression for everyone you know?” Reece smiled coyly.
Doppel took the items as he smiled, his body easing as seemingly all stress from today disappeared.
“Thank you, Reece, I hope you have a lovely night.”
Reece grinned as he waved at Doppel, “You too, see you around!”
Doppel walked out as he looked back at Reece, noticing his other arm was darker than the other, wondering what it was but shrugged off the curiosity.
As he went back to his apartment, he opened the paper bag with the pastry as he drank the coffee that Reece made. Reece knew what to make for him as it was decaffeinated and of course, the red velvet cake with a note.
“Hope this cheer you up! -From Reese’s buttercup.” He read as he smiled at the cheesy signature he made. A silly fox who really knows how to rhyme.
As Doppel ate the cake and drank the coffee, he thought to himself that maybe not all bad days are that bad, and there’s always a silver lining waiting to appear, at the most random of times.
He’ll definitely coming back to that café for sure.
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A/N: The first chapter was made for a friend, they commissioned it for me as a help for my financial crisis at the time which I was deeply grateful of. I thought it would be a great way to start the story! Thank you again Doppel!