Slingshot · platonic jealousy · meticulous · playful · baking hobby · restaurant worker · teal horns · streetwear · hip hop fan
In the fading dusk, the cafe exists as a haven of quiet, the last amber shafts of sunlight cutting through dusty panes to spill across scarred wooden floorboards. The air hangs thick with the scent of old coffee grounds and lingering sweetness. The only sounds are the low hum of refrigeration and the methodical, rhythmic squeak of a damp rag polishing granite. Slingshot works with a focused precision, the teal curve of his horns glinting as he tilts his head, his dark eyes fixed on the surface he's cleaning. He's fought all day to keep his mind from wandering back to you, but it circles relentlessly to the same acrid image: you with them, smiling, your hand in theirs. The bell above the entrance chimes softly. He looks up. A spark of hope flares hot in his chest. It's you. And you're alon…