Somebody in the Coffee Shop (Dimitri)

[Anastasia]

Tintagel was a strange place. Not just because she had just appeared there for no apparent reason, but that they apparently had a kind of bursary or grant that meant anyone who did just appear there could establish themselves in a small home and job. It was like they almost expected people to just appear and after being there for almost a week now she had discovered, that was very true. Most appeared to appear knowingly, like they had found a way to get there and had just gone, that they had decided. She however had just been dropped there for no apparent reason other than to confuse her. After an hour of freaking out she calmed down and thought about it rationally. Magic existed, that was the only explanation and as she had walked around the place she had discovered that that assumption was very true.

It was then she had been found by some nice people who told her what was what and how exactly she could go about getting on with her life there, since she couldn't tell them exactly where she had come from. That was when she wanted to cry, when she realised that she would never get back to where she was. The most she could tell them was Paris, she needed to go to Paris, to find out who she was, to find family. Of course she had been there a few years already and found nothing but it was better than being in an entirely different world altogether. She didn't though, she had learned that crying never got you anywhere and was a very pointless exercise. So getting herself together she had accepted the grant, got a home, got a job and started getting on with her life.

She was just drifting off into a dream when the other waitress asked her to take a coffee over to the gentleman sitting in the corner. Picking up the tray and coffee she headed over to the table and the really quite handsome man. A very handsome man. A very handsome...familiar...man?...No. She'd never been in this world before so how could she think he was familiar. Putting her waitress smile in place she put the coffee down in front of him and said, “Do you need sugar or milk or anything?”

[Dimitri]

Dimitri sat at a corner table, one ankle crossed over the opposite knee and a section of the local paper spread over his lap. To be more specific, it was the classifieds section. He hadn’t heard from his roommate, Allan, for quite some time now, and despite the grant and his job, the Russian boy simply couldn’t afford a two bedroom flat all to himself. It was time to look for something smaller and much cheaper.

With all these people leaving him behind he was going to develop a complex. This was why he had resisted getting close to anyone for so long: if you don’t let people in then they can never truly hurt you. He had lived by that rule for years, and he was really beginning to wish he had stuck with it.

Setting the paper on the table, Dimitri circled a possible prospect just as his server approached.

“Nah, black is fine, th-” he started to reply, lifting his head as he did so. Then his brown eyes took in the woman before him and widened, the words dying on his lips. Had he fallen asleep without realizing it? Surely he must be dreaming. It really couldn’t be Anya standing there in front of him, could it? But it was that same smile, those same beautiful blue eyes... if he was dreaming, he really didn’t want to wake up.

“Anya, what...” he tried to ask but seemed unable to finish the words. Months apart and she still looked the same, yet somehow different. There was a different spark in her gaze.

One thing hadn’t changed, though, and that was her ability to make his heart skip a beat.

[Anastasia]

This guy either hungover or still trying to shake off some sleep, which she gathered from the way he was looking at her. It wasn’t really anything new to her, she was used to customers gawking at her or staring at her strangely, after all she had lived in Paris for two years with a Russian accent and in Montmartre where all the ‘artists’ (drunk on absinthe drunks) lived. She rolled her eyes.

“Yes, that’s my name, well done, you can read a name badge,” she said smirking at him, “now, would you kindly stop staring in the general direction of my breasts and answer the question?”

She found that when dealing with such people it was always best to go with the direct no nonsense approach. It made them much less likely to argue, cause trouble and/or flirt, and usually meant they would shake their head and she wouldn’t have to do anything for them and could return to cleaning the coffee machine. “Is there anything else that you need?”

[Dimitri]

In Dimitri’s defense, while he was currently staring at her chest, after managing to tear his eyes away from her face, it was only to look at the nametag she had mentioned. She had a name badge. It said Anya. She was wearing a uniform, in a coffee shop, and had brought him his coffee. Maybe this was a dream, a really strange dream, because otherwise... well, she definitely hadn’t had this job when she left, so that would mean she had come back and then taken the time to get a job and the only reason she was talking to him now was because he happened to be here.

Definitely a dream, or a prank. A bit of an elaborate surprise, but he would bite.

“Oh ha, ha, very funny,” Dimitri replied dryly, rolling his eyes, though his shock was slowly fading into joy at seeing her again. “Might I remind you that you are the one who left? If anyone should be pretending they don’t remember the other, it’s me.”

Sitting up in his chair and firmly planting both feet on the floor again, he reached out for Anya’s hand, intending to pull her to him. He was smiling at her now, his eyes practically dancing. Damn if he hadn’t missed her like crazy. “Now come here. What I need is to give you a proper welcome back.”

[Anastasia]

Maybe he was just a little slow.
 
She had been warned about some of the customers, to take a little more time with or have a little more patience, but none of them had described this man to her. She didn’t understand what he was saying and decided that perhaps it was a mixture between intoxication and being just a little bit not right in the head. She was about to take pity on him and just walk away when what he said next made everything clear.
 
Anya moved the hand out of reach and placed it on her hip, her other hand already mimicking it on the other side. She glared at him as he sat there. This kind of customer she knew all about, this kind of customer were regulars in the little café she once worked in. The ones drunk on absinthe weren’t all that bad, they could barely stand and were easy enough to kick out onto the street. But this customer, clearly thought the services she was offering were something a little more.
 
“What I need is for you to get out of this respectable establishment,” she said motioning to the door with her head, “before I take you by that mop of hair and do it myself.”
 
Muttering under her breathe in Russian she added, “men are such…idiots!!”

[Dimitri]

One moment he was happy, blissful, excited even, and the next he was pitched right back into that pit of confusion. It was one thing to pull his leg a little for a little bit of fun, just to draw out their reunion, but this was far beyond that. She actually looked genuinely angry.

Which, of course, only succeeded in igniting a spark of anger in Dimitri as well, especially when he caught the last word of whatever she was muttering under her breath. “Idiot!” he sputtered in surprise, also in Russian. Whatever she was trying to pull here, he simply was not impressed.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he settled back in his chair, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankle. It was a very defiant pose, a very immature move, and one that stated he wasn’t going anywhere. It was very reminiscent of years ago, when they had first met, on the train from St. Petersburg. She always had been good at needling him until he just got spiteful and childish.

“I would like to see you try because I am not going anywhere until you drop whatever stupid game you’re playing,” he shot back, glaring up at her.

Although, through the whole exchange, going unnoticed only because of his anger, an odd niggling had started in the back of his brain...

[Anastasia]

Of course it was her luck to meet the only other guy in this weird place that spoke Russian. She could barely meet people that spoke a kind of English that she understood never mind fluent Russian. Or perhaps he had only memorised on learnt to recognise that one word, she wouldn’t be surprised by that, he really was an idiot. This was only confirmed by his then idiotic and childish actions. This guy was really starting to get on her nerves and she was one step away from dragging him out by the ear, or slapping that insolent face.

Taking a deep breathe trying not to rise to whatever it was he was trying to get out of her. The boss was looking over and she really needed to keep this job, “Sir, we reserve the right to refuse custom and we operate a zero tolerance policy. If you continue to make advances on the waitresses here you will be removed by force.”

Grinning as a thought occurred to her she added in Russian, “and if you don’t move you’re sleazy ass right now, I will try, and trust me boy, I don’t play nice.”

[Dimitri]

She was playing the professional card, stating the store policy. The niggling in the back of his brain started to grow, becoming harder to ignore, just the same as the cold hand that was reaching up, slowly wrapping it’s fingers around his heart...

“I’m not trying to make advances on any waitresses,” Dimitri replied, raising his voice and directing the defense toward Anya’s apparent boss who was watching them. “I’m just trying to talk to my girlfriend.”

Desperately he tried to ignore that sinking feeling in his stomach, he tried to hold tightly to his anger and defiance, but even Dimitri, a master of lies, could only lie to himself for so long. He was fighting a losing battle and he was starting to realise it, no matter how hard he tried not to. All those cases last year; Allan, Robin... but he had thought they had stopped. Looking at her, though, really looking at her he started to see the differences. For all intents and purposes she looked the same, but a bit rougher around the edges. Her hands were calloused, she was thinner than he remembered, but those things he could easily excuse; it was the look in her eyes he could not. There was no love there, not even hurt, there was only anger.

Worse than that, he saw no recognition. The cold hand tightened.

“You always did fight dirty,” he continued in Russian. His heart was beating faster, he was starting to feel nauseous. No, it couldn’t be. He wouldn’t believe it. “Come on, Princess, show me what you got.”

[Anastasia]

Girlfriend?!

Oh this guy was good, he was really good. Now her boss was giving her the significant looks as if this was all her fault. He must be her boyfriend and so he was her problem that she would just have to deal with herself. Well this had just gone from mildly annoying to very annoying to making her downright furious. The biggest problem was that she couldn’t do anything about it, there was actually nothing she could do. She was certain she wouldn’t be able to move him on her own and she was sure he was stubborn enough not to leave on his own accord.

Perhaps she could reason with him.

Which was of course the point where he called her princess. Well that just did it. That was the final straw. He had it coming now.

Smiling sweetly she moved in closer and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Oh honey, I’m just playing with you,” she said in English, and loudly so that some of customers were looking over as well, “It’s so sweet of you to come and see me at work, and I cant believe you’re going to go home and make me a romantic dinner. But you better go now, I finish in an hour and wouldn’t you love to have it ready for me when I get back?”

She leaned in as if to kiss his cheek but instead whispered in his ear in Russian, “I would leave now before I tell everyone that you’re going to buy them all coffee because you love me soooooo much.”

[Dimitri]

In an instant her expression changed... at least to the casual observer. From where Dimitri was sitting, though, that sweet smile was even more hateful than the openly angry expression of a moment ago. Before he could fathom the meaning behind the change, before he could react, suddenly Anya was on his lap, her arms wrapped comfortably around his neck, and all the unpleasantness drifted away.

For a moment he let himself forget the angry words, the lack of recognition. For just that moment he let himself believe that it had all been a game, just some cruel punishment for how distant he had been acting before she had left. In that moment the cold fingers around his heart loosened, and he felt a glowing warmth from within. He could be angry with her later for this stupid stunt, they could fight it out spectacularly, and then make up even more so. All would be right with the world, they could work everything out again, it’s not like their relationship had ever been that stable. But they were in love, painfully so, and that was what mattered.

Instinctively wrapping his arms around her, Dimitri let out a sigh of relief. He barely registered her words, nor the raise in volume that indicated they were for the benefit of the crowd, not for him. All that registered was the warmth of her body, the curve of her waist, the scent of coffee and cinnamon from the pastries in the shop. He closed his eyes, breathing her in, shivering at the warm breath on his ear, and for that brief moment he let himself believe it, that nothing had changed...

“I would leave now before I tell everyone that you’re going to buy them all coffee because you love me soooooo much.”

The words struck him so hard he might have fallen had he been standing. The cold hand tightened again, threatening to crush the heart that was pounding so painfully in his chest. His blood felt like ice water in his veins, all sounds around him were suddenly muffled.

His world crumbled.

He shouldn’t have let himself believe, he should have stopped denying what he knew to be true, for that moment that he had given himself, that moment of lies and bliss, made the shock of reality that much more painful, harsh, heartbreaking. To hear her mock his love for her was the final nail in the coffin. He had to accept it.

She remembered nothing.

Letting his arms fall limply to his side, the former warmth of her body suddenly scalding him, Dimitri squeezed his eyes more tightly closed and lowered his head. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Swallowing in vain to swallow the lump in his throat he slowly nodded.

“Fine,” he said, voice barely a whisper, choked with emotion. Clearing his throat, he clenched his jaw, trying to conceal the fact that he was falling apart before her. It took all his former training to get through the next sentence. “If you would kindly get off of me, I’ll leave.”

[Anastasia]

Success!
 
She had succeeded in her plans and the sleazy guy was going to leave and she could get back to work and start earning that not so big pay cheque. It had all worked out according to her cunning spur of the moment plan and she had come out of it triumphant. So why didn’t she feel good about it? Why, when looking at the guys face did she get a horrible sinking feeling in her gut. He actually looked disappointed…more than that…he looked hurt. Well it was his own fault, he started it with his unwanted advances so why he should look like an injured puppy now? This was all his fault, she was only protecting her interests and as she liked to think the female race.
 
Stupid whiney men and their stupid cry baby puppy dog eyes that were making her feel guilty even though this was totally not her fault. He deserved to get thrown out, he actually deserved to have his searing hot coffee poured all over his lap…which she was still currently sitting in.
 
Rolling her eyes she slid of it and said, “Look…just behave and you can stay for as long as you want…there’s no need to be a baby about it.”

[Dimitri]

As much as it hurt to have her so near, knowing what he now knew, he still felt the loss tremendously when she finally moved away. She had lost some of her bite, her anger fizzled, but nothing more pleasant replaced it. Despite the backtracking, despite the fact that she was allowing him to stay, he suddenly wanted to be anywhere but here. For the first time in a long time he wanted to be as far from Anya as he could possibly get.

Rising slowly to his feet, Dimitri mechanically dug a handful of change from his pocket and placed the tip on the table beside his untouched coffee. Without a word, without a look, he moved past her, even managing to make it a few steps away before he stopped.

He was doing it again.

He had given up on her in the beginning because she was a princess and he was nothing, he didn’t deserve her. He had walked away, stayed away, made her believe the lies until he just couldn’t keep it in anymore. Now here he was, walking away again, giving up the fight. Maybe she just needed a little reminder, a little push, and everything would come rushing back. It was possible... he had to at least try, right?

Slowly he turned back around to face her, and for not the first time since he’d met her, Dimitri began to sing...

“You made me talk, and you made me feel,” he began, his voice quiet, reluctant, emotional. “And you made me show what I’m trying to conceal.”

He had always been so closed off, never letting anyone in, never letting anyone besides Vlad get close. If he didn’t let people know him they couldn’t hurt him when they realised he wasn’t worth knowing. Friends, love, feelings in general just made everything so complicated. He had been happy to live without any of that... until Anya. She had broken down his walls, weaseled her way into his heart. She had changed him, and now...

“I put my trust in you, and you let me down. Would you laugh at me? If I said I cared for you?” he took a few steps toward her, looking as close to vulnerable as he had ever looked in his life without it being a con. “Could you feel the same way too? I wanna know...”

Closing the distance between them, Dimitri pulled her in suddenly for a kiss, quick yet insistent, not daring to linger. Pulling back, he searched her face for any sort of recognition, his own face, uncharacteristically unguarded, a mixture of fear, longing, love, but above all: hope.

“What’s the name of the game?”


((Slightly butchered lyrics by ABBA))

[Anastasia]

Oh well now didn’t she just feel awful. Not only was he actually finally standing up and leaving the café but he had the nerve to leave her a tip as well. And it wasn’t like it was a couple of coins he’d left her a decent tip and she was kicking him out of the café. She felt terrible, and it wasn’t helping that she couldn’t seem to stop watching his retreating back. She was sure she was receiving a few dirty looks from the customers in the shop that had been watching the exchange. So maybe she had been a little harsh but it was always better to put them off quickly before they made any more advances. Never had one taken it so badly as this one though. He wasn’t a bad looking guy, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to find himself a girl and yet here was…looking…crushed.

No, he was turning around again.

Perhaps she was being given a second chance and she could apologise, maybe even bring herself to smile a little. As much effort as it would require she was sure she could manage it.

Then he started singing.

What. The. Hell?

Everyone, everyone was looking round at them now, some of them were even smiling at the little serenade, others were nodding their heads along to it. Anya stood there pale as a sheet with her mouth open just staring at the man in front of her. She had no idea what to do, why would he be singing to her? Why on earth was he doing it here and what the hell was she supposed to do about it?! She was sure there wasn’t a rule about no singing in public cafes but she was rapidly beginning to think there should be. But she just couldn’t move, she had no idea what to do and before her mind could start thinking properly and logically again he was pulling her in close and kissing her. When he drew back she opened her eyes (when had she even closed them, and boy did his lips feel good) and stared at him as he finished his song.

She blinked.

“Wow…that…wow,” she breathed, as her mind began to start whirring back into action, “…that was just…”

She glared at him and swinging it back first brought her hand into contact with his face. There was a gasp from the customers watching and out of the corner of her eye she saw her boss take a couple of steps forward before catching her glare. “that was completely inappropriate! How dare you kiss me without, without…my permission. Come on!”

Grabbing his upper arm she began to pull on his arm tearing off her apron as she did so and throwing it on to the table, “you’ve probably got me fired now anyways and you and I need to have a long chat mister!”

[Dimitri]

It could work, maybe it was a spell like the sleeping one she had been under, broken by a kiss. It could work. In a moment he would see her expression change as everything came rushing back to her and she would throw herself at him and they would live happily ever after, or at least until they were alone again and it came time to hash out their latest round of problems. It could work...

...but it didn’t. His hope was shattered along with his nose. Well, almost. Maybe not shattered, but it sure hurt like hell. Clasping his nose with his hands, Dimitri muttered inaudibly to himself in Russian while Anya continued to rant at him. It didn’t really matter what she was saying at this point, it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Stumbling a little when she started to pull him toward the door, he didn’t even think of resisting. It was the direction he was heading in anyway, though right now he really wished to take it alone. Sure, she felt she deserved an explanation for his actions, but that was the last thing he wanted to do right now. He didn’t want to talk about it, and he certainly didn’t want to talk to her knowing that she didn’t remember anything. He loved her and she didn’t even know who he was.

Still, he followed her silently, what else could he really do? He kept his head bowed, one hand on his nose that was bleeding slightly, and the other hanging limply at his side as she pulled him along. Just to rub it all in, a few of the customers actually clapped, obviously thinking it had all been a show. Well, it was just wonderful that so many people had enjoyed his public humiliation and heartbreak! Just freaking wonderful.

[Anastasia]

Dragging him from the Café she waited until they were a little away before she let go of his arm and turned round to face him. She wanted the distance from the café because she wanted to get rid of the audience, as much as they appeared to appreciate the spectacle she didn’t. Although if she went back later perhaps her boss would rethink firing her, maybe he wouldn’t fire her at all, maybe their little ‘show’ would help him gain and keep custom and so she had actually helped. In any case, she didn’t want to give them anymore, the curtain was done on this one, Anya had left the building.
 
The distance was also a good idea because it meant that she had time to calm down, to regain control of her temper. However she didn’t need too, something she realised the minute she looked at his face and saw that he was bleeding. Oh well that was just great. Now not only was he still sporting those big sad puppy dog eyes but now he had that wounded look as well. She could feel her face softening as she looked him over and reaching in to her pocket automatically pulled out a hanky and held it up for him to take.
 
“Look mister, what the hell were you playing at back there?” she said shaking the hanky waiting for him to take it, “I am almost sure we’ve never met before and yet here you are acting like we’re…we’re…oh I don’t know, but honey, I don’t know you from Adam and after probably getting me fired I think you owe me an explanation.”