Copa de Amor: Part One

                                            Part One: Breve


"...and then you draw two interlocking hearts into the foam, like this," Antonio, part-owner and full-time manager of the coffeeshop Copa de Amor, explained as he demonstrated the preparation of his latest creation, "and sprinkle on some dark chocolate, and there we go!" He presented the cup with a proud flourish. "That's how you make today's special!"
"Looks simple enough." Lovino, Antonio's cousin and full-time barista, commented.
"What a cute special!" Feliciano, his brother and fellow barista, exclaimed. "What's it called?"
"The 'Filtro de Amor'." Antonio set the cup down and rummaged under the counter. "We'll give everyone who orders it a free kiss with every cup!"
"W-what!" Lovino sputtered, outraged. "I'm not kissing anyone, bastard!"
"I'll do it!" Feliciano volunteered happily. "I think it's a great idea!"
"You're not kissing anyone, either, idiot!" Lovino smacked his brother on the head, causing him to pout and rub the spot, looking reproachful.
"Now Lovi, there's no reason to be difficult about this." Antonio chided, straightening and setting a container on the counter. "Just put a kiss on the saucer, or on the lid if they order it to go; like this." He opened the container and pulled out a foil-wrapped chocolate kiss, setting it on the edge of the saucer of the beverage he'd just prepared. "See? Isn't that nice?"
"Oh, a candy kiss." Feliciano realised, and smiled. "That's cute, too!"
"Oh." Lovino relaxed, the blush fading from his cheeks. Candy kisses were okay. "Say that it's candy earlier, next time."
"I'll leave this here so it'll be easy to reach." Antonio placed the lid back on the container, and pushed it a little closer to the coffee machine. "Thanks again for agreeing to work today, boys. It's tough to find help on Valentine's Day. I hope it doesn't interfere with your plans!"
"It's okay, we don't have any plans." Feliciano reassured him, as he and his brother pulled on their black aprons. "So we're happy to help!"
"I'm here for the time-and-a-half." Lovino said, tying his own apron. "Time-and-a-half plus overtime, don't forget."
"Yes, yes, of course." Antonio agreed, and shook his head sadly. "I can't believe none of us have any plans for Valentine's Day! Look at us! We're handsome, sweet and charming; not to mention we're fantastic lovers." He grinned and winked, causing Lovino to snort and Feliciano to giggle. "So what are we doing wrong?"
"You and Feliciano are idiots," Lovino informed him, nudging him aside so he could practice making the special. "And I work too damn much to meet anyone worthwhile."
"You don't have anyone you like, Lovi?" Antonio asked with surprise.
"I have someone I like." Feliciano offered, sliding a tray of pastries into the display next to the register. "But, he doesn't feel the same way." He added, a little sadly.
"I know how you feel, Feli." Antonio slumped on the counter, dejectedly pillowing his head on folded arms. "The person I like hates my guts. And I don't know why! We used to be such good friends."
"Probably because you're an idiot." Lovino reiterated unhelpfully, causing Antonio to pout. "And he's an idiot, too." He set a cup next to Antonio's elbow, and Antonio reached to take it, brightening when he glanced down at the picture in the foam.
"Oh, you drew a tomato! How cute! Thank you, Lovi!" He enthused, reaching an arm out to hug his prickly cousin-slash-employee, but Lovino dodged out of reach and brushed past him, barely managing to avoid the onslaught of affection on his way to the storeroom.
"Hurry up and finish it, bastard. It's almost time to open the shop."
"Oh, you're right! I'll just finish this, and then I'll write the special on the board. Feli, could you put the signs up, please, and start the register? We'll open in five minutes." Setting down his empty cup and licking his lips, Antonio clapped his hands, eyes twinkling. "Let's get ready for Valentine's Day!"
Business was surprisingly good, although upon reflection, Lovino realized he shouldn't have been surprised. The coffeeshop was a regular date-spot for the local University campus, and was building a steady following among the residents of the small town in which it was located, as well. The Copa de Amor was known not only for the quality of its coffee and friendly service (when the easily-irritated Lovino was mostly relegated to the task of making the drinks while the other, 'friendlier', employees took the orders), but also for its romantic and intimate atmosphere; all of which made it an obvious choice for a visit on a romance-themed holiday like Valentine's.
"I thought that rush was never going to end." Lovino groaned, reaching for a cloth to wipe down the brewing counter. It was amazing how dirty everything could get after a couple hours of making drinks. He wiped up the spatters of coffee and syrups and creams, scooping the grains of sugar or cocoa dusting the surface of the counter into his hand and dumping it in the nearby bin. In the lobby, Antonio was performing similar cleaning duties, wiping down tables and sweeping the floor, while Feliciano collected abandoned cups and saucers, bringing them to the back to be washed. On normal days there were maybe two to three 'rushes' of customers, lasting an hour and a half or less, but today it had been an almost constant flow of people from the moment they'd opened until now, several hours later. Sales had been great and the tip jar was overflowing, but all three of the young men were glad of the breather.
"It has been very busy today, hasn't it." Antonio sighed, dumping the pile of dirt he'd swept up into dustpan into the trash. He straightened, arching backwards to stretch his back, pressing his forearm to his lower back. "Oh, that feels good." He sighed when it cracked, and rolled his shoulders. "All that bending over the counter is very hard on my back."
"I washed the cups." Feliciano announced, returning from the backroom with a rack of clean dishware. "Now we should have plenty if there's another rush."
"Oh, thanks." Lovino took the rack from his brother, sliding it into place under the machine, where he could reach them easily when he was making the drinks. "I only had one cup left."
"Good job, boys." Antonio said, putting the broom and dustpan away. "Lovino, why don't you make us all something to drink while we have a little downtime?"
"I want the special!" Feliciano volunteered, leaning on the counter and splitting their tips into three equal shares. "I want to try it."
"Yeah, yeah, okay." Lovino acknowledged, pulling out some fresh cups. "One Filtro de Amor, coming right up. You want the kiss, too?"
"Yep!" Feliciano chirped, wiggling a little as he sprawled across the counter surface. "What're you going to have, Romano?" He asked, using the name his brother preferred to use at work. 'Romano' was Lovino's middle name, and also the one written on his nametag, since customers tended to stumble over the name 'Lovino', or worse, giggle like idiots. Antonio refused to use it ("But 'Lovi' is cuter, Lovi~!"), but thankfully everyone else did so; if only because of the intimidating way Lovino glared at them if they didn't.
"None of your business, idiot." Lovino answered as he drew the hearts in his brother's foam. "An espresso, of course."
"I'll have the special. You should try one too, Lovi~." Antonio remarked, leaning on the counter across from Feliciano, pocketing the his share of their tips. "It might bring you luck in love."
"Wouldn't that be nice?" Feliciano smiled wistfully, taking the cup his brother handed him. Lovino only snorted and grabbed his own tips before returning to make another for Antonio.
"The Filtro de Amor is a potion of love." Antonio sing-songed dreamily. "One cup, and true love will come to you."
"It's cappuccino chiaro with cocoa liquor and a hint of cayenne, sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings." Lovino corrected, handing Antonio his drink and pouring himself an espresso. "And besides, love potions are supposed to make the one who drinks them fall in love, stupid."
"Not this one." Antonio assured him cheerfully, picking up his drink. "This is a potion that calls your true love to come to you."
"Does it really?" Feliciano wondered, staring into his cup.
"Yep!" Antonio answered, smiling confidently. "It's a drink of love!"
"No." Lovino answered even more confidently, sipping his espresso. "It's a drink for idiots."
Antonio pouted briefly in his direction. "I'm the boss, and I say it's a drink of love! And what the boss says, goes!" He asserted, and sent Feliciano a wink, lifting his cup. "Besides, it's nice to hope, isn't it?"
"Yes," Feliciano lifted his own cup, smiling back. "It is."
"Idiots." Lovino sighed into his espresso.
They'd barely finished their drinks when another rush started. It was an especially chaotic one, partially due to the fact that a double-decker tour bus had stopped nearby, and most of the passengers opted to look into the cute little coffeeshop with the unusual name which the tour guide had highly recommended. The little shop almost overflowed with the influx of almost a hundred curious tourists, and the flashing of the cameras and the excited chatter and loud exclamations as tourists called each other over to look at interesting bits of decor they'd found, or try the drink they'd ordered, or see the cute butts on the adorable little coffee boys tried even Feliciano's seemingly saintly good humour and patience near the end. Thankfully, though chaotic it was also comparatively short, and barely three-quarters of an hour had passed before everyone had gotten their coffee or tea and returned the bus to carry on with their tour, leaving three slightly shell-shocked young men in their wake (their spirits were recharged considerably when they noticed that the tourists had tipped like drunken sailors, and they had another overflowing tip jar awaiting their attentions). Business was steady for a while after that, but not overwhelming. There were only a handful of customers in the shop, and no-one had come in for a good twenty minutes when the bell over the door rang to announce another entry.
"Oi, Feli." Lovino prompted, glancing over at the door and then at his brother, who was leaning on the counter and staring vacantly into space. "That bastard friend of yours is here."
Feliciano blinked, coming back down to earth from wherever he'd been, and followed his brother's gaze to the tall blond who'd just walked through the door. "Ludwig?" He smiled, straightening to greet his best friend, who stood stiffly in front of the counter. "What are you doing here?"
"Feliciano," Ludwig started, hesitating. "Feliciano, I..."
"Is something wrong?" Feliciano asked, frowning worriedly. Ludwig was never hesitant about anything, so something terrible must have happened.
"Feliciano, I..." Ludwig stammered, mouth working as he tried to get the words out.
"...Ludwig?" Feliciano asked, really worried now.
"I LIKE YOU!" The confession rang out, drawing the attention of everyone in the coffeeshop. Every eye was on the tall blond who stood, looking nervous and a little terrified and deeply embarrassed, but also determined as he thrust the bouquet of roses he held at the Feliciano. "Please be my boyfriend!"
Feliciano blinked at the flowers which obscured his vision, and reached out to take them. He stared at them for a long moment, and looked up at the man across the counter. "Ludwig, you...like me?"
Ludwig shifted and rubbed the back of his neck, blush deepening. "Yes. I, we've been friends for a long time now, Feliciano, and recently I've come to realise that I care for you as...more than a friend. And if you're willing, I'd like to become...partners. Er, l-lovers. I, I," struggling with the words, he closed his eyes and looked away, face burning, and squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists at his sides he admitted, "I...love you."
"Ludwig..." Feliciano breathed, lifting a hand to cover his mouth. He launched himself across the counter, flinging his arms around Ludwig's neck. "You've made me so happy!" He sobbed, clinging to the blond. "I love you too, Ludwig! Of course I'll be your boyfriend! Of course I will!" "Y-you do?" Surprised, Ludwig hesitantly brought his arms up to hug him back. "You, you will?"
"Of course I will!" Felciano reiterated, kissing Ludwig's cheek, and hugging him again. "I'd love to be your boyfriend!"
"That's, I," Ludwig swallowed, overcome. "I'm, I'm very happy to hear that, Feliciano. Very happy."
"Ve~," Feliciano beamed, teary-eyed, and pulled back to kiss his new boyfriend as the coffeeshop erupted in cheers and applause.
Once the congratulations were over and both young men had caught their breath, Ludwig proposed, "Your shift's almost over, isn't it? I was thinking we could go out to eat, once you're finished working."
"Ohhhh, well," Feliciano started, glancing regretfully back at the register he was supposed to be manning. "Normally I'd get off in half an hour, but I'm supposed to help close today, for the holiday..."
"Oh." Ludwig paused a little awkwardly. "Then, perhaps after..."
Feliciano smiled, blushing happily. "Yes, I—"
"Don't worry about it, Feli." Antonio spoke up, smiling broadly. "You go ahead and go with Ludwig. Lovi and I can handle things here."
"Are you sure?" Feliciano asked hopefully, hesitantly reaching for the strings of the apron he wore.
"Of course I'm sure! It's Valentine's Day! It's a day for love!" Antonio assured, waving them off. "You two go ahead and enjoy it together!"
"Thank you!" Feliciano beamed, pulling his apron off and turning to Ludwig. "I'll just go put this away and grab my things, and we can go! Wait here for me!" Ludwig promised to do just that, and a short while later the new couple was heading out the doors, arm-in-arm.
"Bye 'Toni, bye Romano! Happy Valentine's Day!" Feliciano waved in farewell.
"You know this means we're going to have to deal with the lunch rush ourselves, bastard." Lovino pointed out. "You could have at least kept him for another two hours."
"I'm sure we can handle it." Antonio flapped a hand dismissively, and grabbed a cloth to wipe down the counter Feliciano's feet had been on. "I'll man the register and you'll make the coffee, and we'll be just fine. Besides, you saw how happy they were. It's for love, Lovi, love!"
Lovino sighed, but didn't argue. It was nice to see his brother happy, although he didn't particularly care for Ludwig, who was a big macho idiot who drank too much beer and was far too bossy for anyone's good, in Lovino's opinion. Still, Feliciano had been pining after the moron forever, so it was about time the thickheaded blond jerk came around and realised he felt the same damn way. Lovino kicked the trash bin, wishing it was Ludwig's big fat head, and scowled. That bastard better not do anything to upset Feliciano, or he'd wake up in a dark alley missing some very vital regions.
On the plus side, though, now they only had to split the tips two ways.