Extra Drizzle
"Venti caramel latte for Takara and a tall cafe latte for Izumi?" He called out, placing them on the to go counter drink stand.
He saw the movement of people coming over and he ignored it, starting the next ticket for the usual person who ordered an inhuman amount of shots of espresso in his opinion. Who needs 20 shots?! But whatever. As long as he got paid.
"Sorry, can I get more caramel in this?" A small voice asked. He turned and saw the person motioning to the drink in their hand, the caramel latte.
"Yeah, coming right up. Just remove the lid for a moment?" He asked and reach for the squeeze bottle of caramel, topping off the drink with a healthy extra amount.
"Thank you Madara-san."
"No problem."
He looked back at the clock and saw he only had 10 minutes left of his shift and went to go set up the next 4 shots to go in the cup.
Wonder if we'll see our mystery person today.
He pulled a drink from the blender and threw a cap on it.
"Venti matcha frappuccino for- Damnit, Izuna, get over here. I am not saying that."
The snickering man came over from where he had been hiding at a table and picked up his drink.
"What? It's not like it's wrong." Madara at that moment wanted to throw the 64th "Venti ice water with just a scoop of berries- what do you mean it will cost the same as a refresher?" At him but sighed because that would mean he would need to clean it up. He turned and added the scoop, put a lid on it and handed it to the girl who was impatiently waiting at the counter. 20 shots is gone. Damn. Guess I'm still in the running for the bet then. Got at least till the end of the week.
"C'mon Aniki, Hikaku's roommate's uncle's husband just got hired at the twisted kunai as the bouncer, we're a shoo in for getting in. You gotta come."
"I have a paper to finish."
"The one that you finished yesterday? What? Hikaku told me." Last time I share any good news with him. Blabber mouth. He finished his glaring and added the steamed milk to the 4 shots with 2 pumps of vanilla, threw a lid on it, and put it on the counter. "Riichi?" A man nodded at him and took the cup. He looked at the clock and his replacement and walked in the back as the girl started the new tickets that were printing. Madara tried to never leave any tickets undone when he did the switch over. It happened sometimes but he always finished any drink he started.
He waved off his shift manager and hoped his brother had left but was sorely mistaken seeing him leaning against Madara's car.
"C'mon. 1 night. You blocked off this week anyway for that paper. You already did it and it's your birthday. You haven't let me do anything with you for it for 2 years now! So pleeeeaaaseeeee. " Madara sighed at his whining brother.
"Fiiiiine. But you're buying my drinks."
"What? Why?"
"Because I'm assuming you'll need a ride back to your place which is on the other side of town from me?" Izuna chuckled nervously as Madara rolled his eyes and started the ignition.
….
Clubbing. I agreed to this. I can do this. Should be fine, I did this in my undergrad days. And due to his many anxiety-induced workouts, he actually fit into the outfit Izuna had all but chucked at him through the window of his car earlier.
But now he was standing at the entrance of the club as his brother (who was giving him a once over and a thumbs up), and a few faces he did and did not recognize, walked over. One of them, Hikaku's roommate, hugged the bouncer guy before they were all waved in. Which was protested by the people who had been in line. Madara ignored them because the vibrations from the music could be heard from outside anyway.
Within minutes a fruity drink was in his hands and he drank it down. The burn was sorely missed and he joined his brother and their family on the dance floor.
…
"Izuna!" He yelled over the base beat.
"What?" His brother mouthed-shouted.
"This place has dancers!?"
"Well duh! Why do you think it's the hottest place to get into? Don't look at me like that, go on. Live a little!" Izuna then disappeared into the crowd and Madara begrudgingly took his drink and stood against a wall, nursing the mango concoction as the next song started. At some point a woman wearing a very bright green…. something that showed off a lot of her curves and skin, walked over to him. She handed him a paper and he was ready to murder his brother and traitorous cousin who were laughing from the bar.
The paper read: "Happy birthday Maddy! A private dance for 2 hours, just for you! No refunds. And she is just going to lead you there. Got you their best dancer, happy 28th! Love:Izuna, Hikaku, and Ichiro (she sends her love from America!)"
Madara's eye twitched as he followed the woman.
"Is there a chance this could be refunded?"
"No refunds allowed I'm afraid. Nor transfers of the person in the room. If anything goes wrong, press the red button on the wall and security and a staff member will be there swiftly." He chalked it up to the alcohol in his veins as to why he didn't just walk away. He was preparing himself to turn some very gorgeous looking woman (since he only saw women dancers in the one room) away with, "Sorry, but my brother and cousins are idiots and bought this for me as a present. You are probably very lovely and good at your job but I do not enjoy the female body in that way. You may keep the money, but I'd prefer a way to sneak out of here without them noticing me leaving if that can be arranged"
When instead walked in a pale figure, with very well defined abs, skin pale as cream and… holy fuck it's Tobirama.
Tobirama must have recognized him too for their own eyes (gorgeous like two r- stop that brain!) widened as well.
"Tobirama-san I-uh, what brings you here?" The man (younger-brother-of-your- best -friend so stop oggling him) coughed nervously.
"I was, um hired to be in here."
"You're the best dancer?"
"Of the males. I um, did you want me to get someone else...?"
"No! I mean- you're perfect- i mean, fuck I can't talk. Izuna is an idiot as are my cousins and they all but coerced me to be here tonight and into this room."
"I can leave if you'd like?"
"But you'd get in trouble, wouldn't you?"
"I could probably explain it away. Satomi owes me a favor when I did a double with private parties for her last month."
"Or, stay here and tell me how your research journal for Professor Makino is going. I am finishing up my conclusion tomorrow."
"I had planned on finishing tonight but got this dance thrown at me right before I was about to leave."
"I can punch Izuna if you want?"
"No, it's not a secret that I am here but I don't think he does. Seeing as you didn't." Tobirama sat down and kept the dark blue silk robe (that accented his features sowell- no) on as they talked.
"If I may ask, why a dancer?"
"Scholarships and grants only get you so far, and loans are a bitch."
"You're telling me. I work at a lab and Starbucks just to make ends meet." They both laughed and talked more about their classes for the next who knows how long. Finding that his brother's rival, ("it's not fair that he graduated 2 years early!") Isn't as insufferable as he thought him to be, or as quiet, calculated, and cold as he looked in their few shared classes over the years, or as callous as he seemed when Hashirama tried to hug him. No, this man was smart, very smart. Witty, and full of as much sass as himself. He was kind and hadn't made fun of Madara's situation in the slightest, and promised Hashirama wouldn't hear of it either. It was during one of the laughing fits they had that someone knocked on the door.
"Senju! This room is needed and you've been in here already an hour over! Move it or you're scrubbing it!"
"We went over the two hours?" Madara said in shock.
"Yeah, yeah! Give me a minute, Satomi!" Tobirama said to the door. A light huff could be heard and footsteps getting further away.
"She loves to annoy me. Sorry if I took more of your time than was required."
"Like you said, we could have figured it out if I really wanted to leave. This has been the best conversation I have had in a long time. And what better way to spend my birthday than with my crush?" As soon as he said it, he clamped a hand over his mouth. The fuck! That was supposed to stay a secret. Damn it brain!
"M-Me? Your crush?"
"Shut up. Forget I said it." Madara could feel the heat rising on his cheeks.
"I thought you liked Kikio?" What?
"She helped me with a research assessment when I did my masters. She and I just meet up for coffee sometimes and talk about random things. Just a friend."
"Oh." Hmmm...
"Why would you even look at us that closely?" Tobirama's cheeks turned a light pink that Madara could get used to seeing. But before he could admire any further, he was yanked forward and kissed. It was a short one at first, one that told him he could push away if he wanted to, but he instead he snaked his hands up to the white hair that he had admired from afar and tugged himself closer, deepening the kiss.
"Come to my place for the evening?" Tobirama said heaving in a few breaths, face flushed.
"You don't have to-"
"I want to. And then in the morning, how about a proper date?" Madara could only respond with another kiss and a small nod as a banging on the door broke them apart again.