Espresso in The Rain

The scent of coffee and warm pastries lingered in the air as Noah leaned against the counter, watching Elias move effortlessly through The Roasted Heaven.

Morning had barely begun, but the café was already filled with customers—students with laptops, office workers grabbing their usual orders, and the occasional tourist lured in by the cozy atmosphere.

Elias worked like he was built for this—fluid, efficient, and completely in his element.

It was almost poetic how he had once been trapped in the rigidity of the corporate world, suffocating under expectations, only to carve out a space where he could breathe freely.

A space that Noah had somehow found his way into.

"Are you just going to stare at your boyfriend all day, or are you going to help?" Perth's voice cut through his thoughts, and Noah turned to see him smirking from behind the counter.

Noah smirked back. "I don't work here."

Perth snorted. "Could've fooled me. You're here more than Elias is."

Noah shrugged. "Maybe I just like the coffee."

Perth shot him a look. "Right. The coffee."

Noah chuckled, shaking his head.

Santa slid into the seat next to him with a dramatic sigh. "I still can't believe you've been officially living in his apartment for weeks now."

Noah arched a brow. "You make it sound like a scandal."

Santa smirked. "Oh, it should be. But somehow, you two are so disgustingly domestic that it's just sweet instead."

Perth rolled his eyes. "I hate that I agree with her."

Elias returned to the counter just in time to hear that and raised an eyebrow. "What are we agreeing on?"

Santa grinned. "That you and Noah are basically an old married couple at this point."

Elias glanced at Noah, an amused glint in his eyes. "Is that so?"

Noah huffed. "Don't encourage her."

Elias leaned in, voice teasing. "But are we an old married couple?"

Noah smirked. "If we were, I'd have kicked you out for leaving your socks everywhere."

Elias laughed, and for a moment, it was just them—caught in something effortless, something warm.

Santa sighed dramatically again. "See? Disgusting."

Perth just shook his head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on his face.

---

An Unexpected Visit

The day passed quickly, and as evening fell, the café quieted down.

Noah was wiping down tables when the door chimed. He glanced up, expecting another late-night customer, but his entire body froze when he saw who was standing there.

His mother.

Dressed immaculately in a tailored suit, her gaze swept across the café before settling on him.

Noah's stomach twisted.

He hadn't seen her in months—not since their last tense conversation where she had made it clear she didn't approve of his choices.

She walked forward with purpose, heels clicking against the wooden floor.

Elias, who had been behind the counter, noticed the shift in Noah's posture and immediately came over.

"Noah," his mother said, her voice cool as ever.

Noah straightened. "Mom."

She glanced at Elias before turning back to him. "We need to talk."

Noah exchanged a look with Elias, who gave him a reassuring nod.

"…Okay."

---

The Conversation

They sat at a secluded table, the air thick with tension.

His mother folded her hands neatly. "I see you've settled in here."

Noah nodded cautiously. "I have."

She exhaled, eyes scanning the café. "I won't pretend to understand why you chose this over the opportunities waiting for you."

Noah braced himself for another lecture, but then she surprised him.

"…But I can see that you're happy."

His breath caught.

She met his eyes. "I fought against this for so long because I thought you were making a mistake. I thought you were throwing everything away."

She hesitated before continuing, "But I've realized… I never actually asked you what you wanted."

Noah swallowed hard.

His mother sighed. "I still don't fully understand your choices. But if this is what makes you happy, I won't stand in your way anymore."

Noah stared at her, processing her words.

After everything—the arguments, the disappointment, the distance—she was finally… accepting him?

His throat tightened. "Mom…"

She gave him a small, hesitant smile. "Just… don't disappear from my life, alright?"

Noah exhaled shakily and nodded. "I won't."

And just like that, a weight he hadn't even realized he was still carrying began to lift.

---

That Night

Noah curled into Elias' warmth, head resting against his chest.

The city lights flickered outside the window, casting a soft glow over them.

"She came around," Elias murmured, fingers trailing lazily through Noah's hair.

Noah nodded against him. "Yeah."

Elias pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "I'm happy for you."

Noah looked up at him, something tender in his gaze. "You're a big part of why I never gave up on this."

Elias smiled. "Well, I'm glad you didn't."

They stayed like that for a while—wrapped up in each other, in the quiet comfort of knowing that, finally, everything was falling into place.

And for the first time in a long time, Noah knew—without a single doubt—this was exactly where he was meant to be.

---