Chapter Text
🧊☕ ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ₊˚⊹♡
John always seemed relaxed, but internally everything was holding together with threadbare gum bands ticking along the gears. Chronic fatigue was not great for someone who worked gruelling night shifts.
In fact it was very counter-intuitive, spiking his stress levels, some smarter doctors might say. Hence why John made a point to never bring it up in conversation with his colleagues.
Besides that was where coffee kicked in. Ah sweet, sweet caffeine. What would he do without it? John shuddered at the very thought.
Up until recently his go to was the Dunkin drive thru, but now John got into the Pitt a little earlier to ride the elevator.
The iced coffee in the cafeteria was usually subpar to a proper cafe, however, lately it was amazing no matter what time he ordered it.
Which was because you'd started working in the cafeteria. Gloria was on a warpath to try and improve customer, or rather patient, satisfaction and that included a rehaul of the cafe.
Downstairs at the gift shop and the cafeteria was run entirely by volunteers, how they all did that gig in this place without being remunerated, truly boggled the mind.
But Gloria had splurged on a paid position to work the coffee station, after reading that their offerings of vending machine coffee was terrible. John couldn't agree more, nothing worse after dealing with this place than also getting a coffee that tasted like the inside of a leather boot.
“Hey Doctor Shen, clocking in?” You greeted him each night with a bright grin, somehow always managed to look gorgeous under the harsh fluorescent light above.
“You know it!” John didn't even need to tell you his order, you already knew it off by heart.
Watching your skilled hands work the machine John felt his heartbeat elevate. That wasn't a great sign, his complete co-dependency on coffee was seriously becoming a Pavlovian situation.
Whenever you'd ding the bell that his order was up, John practically panted over the counter like a dog, tail wagging.
John’s order was simple, an iced double-shot Americano with a dash of milk and three sugars.
“Strong but sweet, you know they often say people are like their coffee orders…” You suggested, sizing him up behind the machine.
John was in his scrubs, grey hoodie over the top as it was getting colder. Yet the weather never deterred him from ordering an iced coffee. Those nice strong arms of his flexed when he folded them and you found yourself staring far too long as the machine whistled away.
“Hm, interesting! I go to the gym but I'm kinda anemic. Is that why I like iced coffee so much? Cause I'm always freezing?” John wondered aloud, that big dumb goofy smile you adored giving him cheek dimples.
This guy really didn't pick up on any flirting cues you attempted at all. Which only added to his charming vagueness. You really wanted to ask him out on a date.
But it was seriously pointless, this was a smart, effortlessly handsome with a soft sweet demeanor. If he was single that was surely a punishable crime by the people of Pittsburgh.
“Could be!” You smiled warmly back at him, deciding to write a little note for him on the lid this time.
Enjoy your survival bean juice Doc! ᕙ( • ‿ • )ᕗ
“Here you go Doctor Shen, have a good shift!” You popped the straw in and handed him the drink, his hand brushing against yours for a moment.
“Oh uh woopsie. Hey and thanks, you too!” John could feel the heat in his cheeks rise, swiftly circling around like a robot to march back up into the elevator.
You gave him a soft laugh and waved him goodbye, going to clean the machine.
Waving you back farewell, as soon as the doors dinged shut, he cringed at himself in the reflective metal, buttons lighting up to the Pitt ER floor.
“Who the heck says woopsie to a woman when they accidentally touch hands?” He interrogated himself, what a dumbass thing to say.
“I do, apparently. Nice one Shen.” John glowered at his reflection.
“Talking to yourself in the elevator again?” Jack asked, bemused when the doors opened on his floor and he got in.
“Oh no, I totally have bluetooth in. I’m on the phone with an important business client.” John laughed, sipping his coffee. Jack shook his head with a small smile.
Upon handover, there were others also enamored with your barista work at the desk, instead of finishing up their charting.
“My latte has a cute kitty cat!” Victoria gushed, showing off the latte art you'd made for her to everyone and anyone in sight.
Sure enough there was a little cat made of foam with stars and hearts around it in chocolate powder.
“Wow she's talented!” Dennis smiled over Victoria’s shoulder. “Looks just like Pumpkin.” He mused.
John had to agree, peering over it seriously resembled the calico to a tee.
“She even got the spot over his eye…ahh I love it so much I've got to put this on my story!” Victoria whipped out her phone and tried to get the angle right, Dennis diligently helping by holding the cup and following instructions.
John found himself grinning ear to ear like an idiot whenever he happened to look down at the plastic cup with your cute message. It was an inside joke, he had rushed into the cafe once when he was called into another shift with an emergency having pulled an all-nighter, frantically requesting his survival bean juice. The word coffee eluded him until he drank the entire thing that night.
It was awesome that you even remembered that, that must’ve all happened months ago now. The thought of you thinking about him made his body flush warm despite the crushed ice of his beverage.
“Damn this coffee is fantastic.” John said for the hundredth time tonight, slurping up icy cold goodness with a straw.
Setting it down finally, as he caught up on the handover from day crews charting or lack thereof, Parker was standing beside him with a knowing smirk.
This staunch defender of Dunkin Doughnuts coffee had completely given up his routine and rewards card, the app not opened even once since you’d arrived onto the scene. He now got a sugary treat from you with his ice coffee, tonight was a white chocolate blueberry muffin you’d made.
Sure you made great coffee and amazing baked goods, but John was a true creature of habit so this must be love.
“Does it help that the barista is cute too?” Parker teased, trying to get him to be honest.
John froze at that. “I don't think it makes the coffee taste any better. If it does, that's like a serious placebo effect.” He tried to steer the conversation far away from that train of thought.
Relationships? Outside of his pet rabbits back at his apartment, Buffy and Spike, John didn't have time for those, after work he crashed out until the next shift. Rinse and repeat.
His days off were spent recovering from fatigue, heading to a museum or doing something interesting when not sleeping. Besides, you were definitely way out of his league!
“Ah but you didn't deny you think she's cute. Checkmate Shen. I'm putting this one up on the board.” Parker announced and John sighed, fishing out a twenty to get her not to make a betting pool out of it.
“Relax, I'm kidding. Thanks for the twenty though.” Parker laughed, pocketing the note.
“I'm sure I owe you for something or other.” John rolled his eyes playfully.
“I’m sure you do!” Parker replied, strolling off to go do some actual work. John supposed he should do the same thing.
The night shift often had the truly unexpected happen, this one was a doozie, something John nearly said near the patient, until Jack glared at him enough to shut his trap. A construction worker had fallen into the cement drum and his arm had set. There was too much of the stuff to wipe off before it dried. Then when he tried to yank it out of the drum, he’d managed to pull it near out of its socket.
It called for major surgery and reattachment, which meant they had to call for the Shark, who’d been enjoying a break but somehow apparated behind them all the same.
John wondered if Brendon the Vampire wasn’t a better nickname, although he guessed it sounded a bit too goofy and endearing, like a Brendon Fraser movie.
Doctor Park glared at him, like he could read John’s mind, which was spooky and really played into the vampire conspiracy, and tossed an empty coffee cup into the bin before gloving up.
“That barista surprisingly makes a decent piccolo. Aesthetically pleasing too. Shame she didn't take my number. Her loss.” Brendon the shark said it all so clinically, icicles were growing at his already sharp canines. “I'm a consummate lover.”
Why did John suddenly want to strangle Brendon with an IV drip bag? Such a weird thing to fantasize about there brain! Not to mention he’d get his ass royally kicked.
He started laughing to himself at the mental image and Brendon just cocked a brow, moving on. This wasn't out of the ordinary for John to randomly get the giggles.
After the poor dude who nearly became a Roman sculpture and numerous other insane emergencies were all handled, it was time to finally clock out.
“Good work everyone, now go to sleep!” Jack’s speeches were the best.
Mostly because unlike Robby’s philosophical ramblings they were short and the advice was easy to follow. Also he just had a better natural public speaking voice, John didn’t make the rules.
Getting to leave also meant time for another coffee for the road, which meant getting to see you again and John cheerfully made his way down in the elevator.
“Your usual Doctor Shen?” You greeted him brightly. Tonight must've gone somewhat well, he was smiling and finished on time.
Not that you were keeping tabs on his shifts or anything, you just knew the schedule having worked here for a while!
“Yes please!” John grinned, leaning a little bit against the counter. Checking his phone the bunnies were doing okay on his nest camera in their hutch.
You sharply cursed, making John quickly step back from the counter until he realised it wasn't aimed at him.
“Darn, the ice machine isn't working…” You sighed, trying everything you could to get the stupid thing up and running. “Sorry Doctor Shen, I won't be able to get the technician in until tomorrow.”
John weighed up his options, get into his car and drive thru Dunkin for a lackluster roll of the dice coffee, or order a nice warm latte from you? The choice was pretty easy to make.
“Could you make me a latte instead? I saw the cute one with the kitty cat you made for Javadi. Really impressive!” John asked, noticing the widening of your eyes at his request.
“Of course I can, any requests for the art I draw on top?” You beamed, excited to show off your skills.
“How about a rabbit?” John suggested shyly, “I actually have two, did you want to see them for a reference?” This was the first time he shared anything outside of his order or a casual joke with you.
“Uh yes please!” You exclaimed, motioning for him to hurry up and get his phone out.
John showed you a video link to his terrace house garden which looked very tidy and orderly, a wooden hutch was set up with straw and two cute fuzzy floppy eared rabbits were huddled together. “Here they are.” He announced, pointing at the screen.
“So cute Doctor Shen! Oh my gosh, what are their names?” You seriously wanted to pet their fluffy butts through the screen.
“Buffy and Spike. You can call me John by the way.” John said sheepishly, enjoying how your shoulder brushed up against his momentarily.
“Great reference, I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and sorry what was that last part?” You asked, too busy looking at the screen.
“You can call me John. Only if you'd like, of course, you don't have to or anything.” John stumbled over his words, that was so weird! He never got tongue tied like this, he was breezy.
Where was his general cruisy composure? Please come back!
“Sure, here's your order John!” You didn't seem to notice at all, already done making his coffee.
Unable to hold your gaze when you said his name so sweetly, John stared down at the cute latte art you'd done of not just one but two bunnies! “Woah you're really talented.” He remarked.
/)/) ((\
( . .) (. . )
o( づ♡⊂ )o
There was also a little heart between them. Did that mean something? Then he recalled he showed you his pets not even five minutes ago and shook that idea out of his dumb head.
“I like to enter latte art competitions, it's fun and you earn a little bit of cash or merch if you win.” You explained, feeling giddy that he liked it.
Would he pick up on the hint of you adding a little heart between the two rabbits?
Decidedly not, as John turned to leave. You tried to not be too deflated, wiping down the counters to distract yourself. This was just a silly crush, as if John would be interested.
But suddenly he was back, standing right by the counter again, looking shy. “It's almost too cute to drink, I don't want to ruin your art.” John admitted with a gentle laugh.
“I guess I did kinda make it look too much like your children huh?” You laughed along, giving him a warm smile that made John feel a little bold.
“Would you like to come over and meet them sometime? Maybe like after dinner?” John suggested, feeling like a creep the moment the words left his lips.
However, your smile widened, eyes glimmering when you said, “I’d love that! Are you free Friday?”
“Oh, yeah I am.” John was dumbfounded as you exchanged numbers, completely on cloud nine when he got to the parking lot.
He nearly dropped his coffee when a hand clapped him on the chest, Parker grinning knowingly at him. “Here, something's telling me you need this twenty bucks more than I do to take a certain someone out…”
“How did you know?” John was beginning to suspect that everyone in this hospital was a mind reading vampire.
“You never order hot coffee. Even in January.” Parker surmised, jangling her keys as she left.
That was true, while the art and you were super cute, it felt wrong. His tongue was getting burned.
He hoped the ice machine would get fixed.