Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tweek walked into the coffee shop and flipped on the lights. He and Craig had changed the lightbulbs to warm tones instead of cold tones, making the whole shop look more homey. There were plants everywhere and many books. The ceilings were covered in stars painted by Kenny and Butters. Planet diagrams scattered the air, hung up by clear string, making them seem to float. Setting his stuff down, he walked further into the shop. The time read “5:12” on the wall clock. Tweek always had to wake up early to open the shop. He only had a few workers and it showed. It was a small shop, but even then you could tell when it was understaffed. Most of the time he would work both the cash register and the coffee making. He started tidying up when Kenny walked in.
“Yo.” Kenny yawned as Tweek looked up.
“You can start getting the machines ready…” Tweek said pushing in chairs and straightening tables. Kenny nodded and walked into the back. Tweek remained in the main area tidying things and wiping down tables.
“Do you want me to make you a cup for the day?” Kenny asked from the back as the machines started up.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll make one later.” Tweek replied tiredly. Ever since Tweek was sixteen he didn’t trust anyone to make coffee for him, not even Craig. He would only drink coffee if he made it. He wasn’t the same since his parents were arrested.
“Where’s the portafilter?” Kenny yelled from the back room, snapping Tweek out of his trance-like state of dissociation.
“Uh-I think it’s in the sink. I put it in there yesterday and forgot to clean it.” Tweek mumbled as he walked to the back. He leaned on the counter while watching Kenny wash the portafilter. After a bit of just staring blankly into space he stood up and stretched. “6:23” the clock read. Tweek sighed and changed the sign from closed to open. He really didn’t want to work, but he had to. This was his and Craig’s only income.

The great thing about the early morning is that it is always decently empty, usually it’s a lot busier in the later morning. The first few hours of being open consisted of Kenny and tweek talking and cleaning. Once it hit 8 o’clock, it started to get busy. Which meant less talking between Kenny and Tweek that were outside of taking orders. Once the morning cleared up Craig came into work. Craig and Tweek live in an apartment together and Tweek always takes the earlier mornings, he just works better that way. Craig takes the mid day shift with Tweek and usually works the evenings while Tweek is home or out running errands. Kenny works all day but usually only comes in on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. He works part time.
“Hey hon’. How’s it been today?” Craig asked, walking to the counter. Craig has learned that if he doesn’t ask, Tweek will bottle it up till it bursts.
“Fine. I bit tired…nothing out of the ordinary, right?” Tweek chuckled. He was trying to lighten his own mood but it didn’t necessarily work. Tweek got up from the stool that whoever was the cashier used so Craig could have it.
“Honey, sit down.” Craig said, trying to let Tweek sit down. Tweek shook his head and sighed.
“I’ve been sitting there all morning, I’m just gonna get up and tidy. Keep my mind busy.”
Craig sighed but let Tweek wander off around the shop

Chapter Text

Tweek started cleaning a nearby booth that had coffee spilt on it when the shop door opened. He didn’t think anything of it till the voice spoke to him.
“Tweek! It’s been a while huh?” The voice exclaimed as he walked closer. Tweek turned around and glanced at the figure. Of course, when Tweek didn’t feel like being too social, the most social person he knew came into the shop.
“Hey Clyde.” Tweek said, monotonically turning around to face him completely.
“You haven’t been with Craig at the last few hang outs, somethin’ wrong?” Clyde smiled and tried to pat Tweeks shoulder. Tweek, having none of it, moves out of the way.
“No. Just haven’t been feeling very social lately.” Tweek mumbled crossing his arms.
“I’m at work, couldn’t you just wait till after I get off?”
“Aww, but what fun would that be?” He asked as he walked up to craig. Tweek sighed and decided to ignore them and clean tables. The slow calming motions of his hand and the soft music in the café started to help Tweek relax a bit. The soft sound of the towel on the table, the sound of his own breath, the light jazz in the background, everything was perfect. He could stay like that all day. But that was short lived. He heard Kenny call his name and sighed. Once Tweek got to the coffee machine where Kenny was, Ken started explaining.
“It’s jammed. Can’t get it on completely or off.” He said putting his hands on his hip. Tweek pulled it off with ease.
“Did you try twisting it to the left?” He said handing the portafilter to Ken.
“H-how…” Ken, who was absolutely shocked, muttered.
“Strength…and common sense…” he said walking off. He muttered the last part to himself so Kenny couldn’t hear.

Once Tweek got back to the main area Clyde was leaving. He had just walked out and around the corner when Tweek walked to the counter.
“Thank god…” Tweek sighed as he slumped down on the counter. Craig just watched Tweek for a second before speaking up.
“You should go home.”
“No, I have to work. I’ll leave at 4 like usual.” Tweek responded standing up straight. He ran his hands through his hair and mumbled incoherent curses.
“Hon, I don’t mean to be a dick, but please. You need to go home. What time did you end up coming to bed last night?” Craig asked as he stood up to talk to Tweek better.
“Why do you want to know that? If you’re asking if I got sleep, I did.”
“How much sleep?” Craig said, putting a hand on Tweeks shoulder.
“An hour.” Tweek replied, looking towards the back where Kenny was. Tweek really didn’t want Kenny to see them fight. They weren’t fighting yet, but he had a feeling that they would.
“An hour? And you still came to work?” Craig asked, slightly panicked. He was trying to stay calm for Tweeks sake.
“Yes? This is our only source of income Craig. Without this shop we would starve and die like dogs!” Tweek panicked. He immediately moved his hands to his hair and started pulling it, it was instinct at that point.
“Honey, calm do- “
“I can’t calm down Craig!! You’ve got me worked up and now I’m going to be jittery all day! Oh god, what if we lose customers because of it.” The rambling went on. Craig didn’t know what to do. He knew that if he tried to talk to Tweek he would only make it worse. Craig just sat there, silently listening to Tweek ramble as he held his shoulders.
“Tweek? Where’s the extra coffee?” Kenny asked as he walked to the main area of the café. He stopped and saw that Tweek was freaking out again while Craig tried to calm him down. Kenny slowly walked to the back of the shop, not wanting to interrupt.

After a bit of awkward standing while listening to Tweek rant, Craig spoke up.
“Hey, calm down. Please? I don’t want to make you worse, but I really don’t want you to have a panic attack.” Tweek nodded and sighed.
“S-sorry.” He croaked out as he trembled. Craig felt bad and hugged Tweek.
“I don’t mean to make you feel guilty. I just don’t want you to freak out, you know?”
A few consumers walked in, and they separated. Craig gave Tweek a gentle smile before walking back behind the counter to take their orders. Tweek sighed and went back to the back to check on Kenny.
“Are you and Craig good?” Kenny asked while not turning away from the coffee machine.
“We’re fine…I think.” Tweek said leaning on a counter.
“I don’t know. He’s been trying to help me, but there’s nothing to really help but sit and listen to me.”
“Damn man, that sucks.” Kenny mumbled. He and Tweek have been friends since 8th grade. Kenny was always there for Tweek and vice versa. So, when Kenny said he needed a job, of course Tweek said he could work at his shop. Tweeks only had the shop for almost a year, but it is quite popular. Everyone in town had been looking for a new coffee place since Tweek Bros shut down a few years earlier.

Chapter Text

A bit after Tweek and Craig had their little thing happen, Tweek heard yelling from the other area and decided to check it out. It was Craig bickering with a customer. Tweek immediately went over to Craig and moved him away from the person.
“I am so sorry! He’s just not very friendly. What’s wrong? How can I help?” Tweek said panicking.
“This employee messed up my order and claimed it was my fault!” The woman yelled.
“You didn’t order what you said you ordered and then got mad.” Craig mumbled.
“Craig.” Tweek warned before turning back to the woman.
“What did you want to order?” He asked
“An iced quad espresso in a venti cup with extra ice and six espresso shots.” The woman stated snarkily.
“May I see the coffee that we served you?” Tweek asked before the woman angrily gave Tweek the cup. He read the label and then looked back and forth between the woman and coffee.
“Mam? You did order an iced quad espresso in a venti cup with extra ice and six espresso shots?” He said softly and anxiously.
“Well it didn’t taste right. I’d like a refund.” She demanded.
“Mam, we don’t offer refunds unless absolutely necessary.”
“It didn’t taste like that place across town so I want a refund!” She said, slamming her hand on the counter.
“That’s because we use different beans and machines.” Tweek said. The woman glared at him.
“Let me see your manager.” She said glaring at him more.
“I’m actually the owner.” Tweek said smiling in a “try something, I dare you” way. The woman’s eyes widened slightly as she looked him up and down before grabbing the coffee and storming out.

Tweek sighed and slumped down. Craig patted his shoulder.
“You did good.” He said smiling. Tweek just nodded and stood back up. He smiled at Craig before walking back to a table to clean up. Tweek loved cleaning. Well, actually he had a love-hate relationship with it. He loved to clean in general, but there was this little part of him that knew why he cleaned so much. When he lived with his parents, they would fight. Not only with Tweek, but with each other too. Whenever they fought or argued they would send Tweek to his room and make him clean. So in tweeks mind, whenever someone yelled or argued, it made him want to clean. So, every time he and Craig get in an argument, he cleans. Fuss with a customer, clean. It made Tweek feel horrible, but there was a strange sense of safety and calmness to it. Once he got into the groove of cleaning it got easier to clean. Eventually, 4 o’clock hit and that’s when Tweek said he’d leave. Craig walked up to Tweek.
“Honey, it’s four.” Craig said, patting tweeks shoulder.
“Okay-uh-lock the doors when you leave and make sure all of the machines are off. Oh! And don’t forget to clean the dishes, if they don’t they’ll get moldy and you know how I hate mold.” Tweek said rambling to Craig.
“Yea, I know babe. You tell me every time.” Craig said, smiling softly. Tweek grabbed his tote bag off a stool in the corner near the door.
“Here’s the keys before I forget.” Tweek said handing the shop keys to Craig.
“Don’t worry, me and Kenny got this, like every other time.” Craig said smiling. Tweek nodded and headed out to his car. He couldn’t help but still be anxious. But deep down, he knew that they had it, like every other time.

Tweek got in his car and started it up, checking all around him before even thinking about pulling out. Before he drove home he stopped at a gas station. He didn’t get out, he just sat there. Thinking. His head was in his hands and he just sat there. Not crying, not mad, just there. A knock on his window made him jump. He immediately started freaking out before looking at his window. He put his hand on his head as he rolled down the window.
“Jesus butters…don’t sneak up on me like that…” Tweek said, sighing.
“Sorry, you just looked bad. Do you need to talk?” Butters offered.
“Nah, I-I’m fine. Just a bit jumpy.”
“Oh, well if you need anything, you know where to find me.” And with that, butters left. Tweek was left alone again. Before he could drive off he took a few deep breaths.
“In…out…in…out…” he thought to himself. After a bit, he pulled out of the gas station and started driving again. When he drove, he had a podcast on. Everytime without fail, he had one on. It made him feel like there was someone with him. He usually couldn't be alone for long or he’d freak out. But, when he listened to a podcast, it made him calmer. He got to their apartment building and parked the car. Again, just like at the gas station he just sat there. Not moving or anything. After a bit he came back to reality and got out of the car. He went up the stairs, he never liked the elevator. Too cramped, too many people, too many possibilities. He liked to walk anyways.

Chapter Text

Once Tweek got up to his apartment, he sighed. He was so glad to be out of the coffee shop, yet so anxious to leave it with Craig and Kenny. It's not that he didn't trust them, it's just that he's anxious about everything. He pulled out his phone and texted craig.
“Everything good??” a second later, as if Craig knew that Tweek was going to text him, he responded.
“Yes, everything is fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes hun, I'm sure. Stop worrying.” Tweek set down his phone and sighed. The shop didn’t close for another 4 and a half hours; he had to stop worrying. He took a deep breath and stood up. He started to clean up around the apartment to keep his mind busy. It was more tidying than cleaning. He and Craig were neat people, very neat. They had everything labeled and in a specific spot, never daring to move each other's things. As Tweek tidied the apartment, he steered clear of Craig's items. Making sure that it was tidy but also keeping everything in its place. Before he knew it, it was 6:30. He sighed and picked up his phone. He texted Craig.
“What do you want for dinner tonight?” he pressed send and waited for Craig to text back.
“I don’t care. I'll eat whatever you eat.” Craig replied.
“I was asking you because I didn't know.” Craig read Tweak's message but didn’t reply for a while. It started to worry Tweek a bit. “What if something went wrong?” Tweek thought. After a bit, Craig finally replied.
“Kenny invited us out to dinner. Said he’d come by and pick you up on our way.” he sent. Tweek thought about it for a second before typing back.
“I'll get my shoes on.”

Tweek stood outside of the apartment building with his coat. He would check his phone every once in a while, to see if Craig was almost there. He saw Kennys car pull up, Craig in the front with Kenny and Butters in the back. Tweek opened the door and got in next to Butters.
“Heya Tweek!” Butters greeted him happily.
“Hey…” He said as he closed the door and buckled up.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Y-yea…A lot better.” Tweek mumbled as he glanced at Craig. Craig was on his phone, mostly ignoring everything. Kenny started talking, no one in particular, just talking.
“We’re going to this cool new restaurant I saw. I checked the menu, and it looked like it had something everyone liked, including you, Tucker.” He nudged Craig with his elbow. Craig simply rolled his eyes. Everyone who knew Craig knew he was too picky for his own good, although he eats almost whatever Tweek eats. Tweek fidgeted with his coat as they drove. For some reason, there was a slight tension in the car. Tweek had a feeling it was because of him, but he always thought that. Butters and Kenny were talking to each other casually as Craig played on his phone and Tweek looked out the window. They got to the restaurant, and all got out. It looked like a little hole in the wall, family run restaurant to Tweek.
“This is the restaurant?” Craig asked. “This looks kinda sketchy.”
Kenny nodded and smiled. “I think it has character.”
“Whatever you say dude…” Craig mumbled.
They walked in and it seemed less sketchy on the inside. Tweek glanced around as Kenny got them a table.
“Hello and welcome to Bene Cucina, how many in your party?” A sweet young woman asked.
“Four.” Kenny replied to the woman with a smile.
“Alright, if you can follow me, I’ll seat you all.” She grabbed a few menus and walked to a table. They all sat down and got comfortable as the woman set down the menus.
“Someone will be right with you to take your orders.” She said walking off. Kenny looked at the menu while Butters leaned on him and looked at his own. Tweek watched them for a second before picking up his own menu. He scanned over the menu as Kenny talked to Craig.
“I know you like pasta, so I picked a place with plenty of pasta.” He remarked as he smiled. Craig simply nodded and looked at Tweek. Tweek returned Craig's gaze.
“How was work after I left?” Tweek asked Craig. Before Craig could answer, the waitress walked up to them.
“Hi, I’m Erica and I’ll be your server today. What can I get started for you today?”
“Uh-water for me and…what do you guys want? It’s on me.” Kenny offered. They all ended up getting water. The waitress nodded and walked off. Tweek looked at Craig and fidgeted with his menu.