𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚 — 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙

☕

COFFEE – IT MADE the world go round. Or, at least, got everyone awake enough to actually work and do their jobs. And while most Starbucks or coffee shops were treated terribly by freshly woken up business men who needed the coffee to really wake them up or college students who hadn't slept for days on end because school was hard, they were always appreciated when the warm – sometimes cold because people are starting to enjoy that for some reason – cup reaches their hand and they take a greedy sip.

Then, they'll pull away because the drink had burned their tongue and now that's hurting but sometimes they don't even realize it because they're so numb to everything so early in the morning or after the third day of no sleep.

Brendon Winchester knew the feeling well. College was hard – like really, who thought that was a good idea? He just wanted more easy-going professors but Kennings loaded them up with so many fucking papers that he didn't know how the guy could grade all of them (oh wait, he didn't) – but working at Vanilla Bean Coffee Shop was also hard.

He wouldn't call himself weak or easily hurt by the rudeness of customers, he worked in retail during high school and literally no one gave him common curtesy, especially during the holidays, but it was something different at Vanilla Bean. Customers were vicious while ordering sometimes and he would admit that sometimes he went back to his dorm crying because they were so rude to him. But it's fine, he's gotten used to it and now has a thicker skin.

That wasn't the hardest part, though. No, he could handle rude customers who had no compassion for other humans after going days without sleeping (because he was rude to people then too, and a little insane but whatever) and professors who gave way too much work, but what he could not handle was the cold.

New York was much different than Georgia, especially during winter. He thought it was bad in fall when he first got to the campus for the school year – fall was like Georgia winter – but then it started snowing and he literally thought he could catch hypothermia and yeah, Brendon hates winter.

Georgia didn't get cold – at least nowhere as cold as New York. He thought it being in the forties was bad, but that's higher than a normal day and he is suffering. How do people live in New York and survive? Why are people moving there? Why do they stay? How do people enjoy the cold? He had a lot of questions for New York natives.

Another downside of going to college in the north was that all of his friends were from New York. They didn't like the cold either, but they were never actually freezing from it like Brendon, and they didn't like hearing him complain about it. They were used to the weather while for him it was completely new and unheard of in Georgia.

The good thing was that Vanilla Bean was always super warm – and the coffee cups added some extra heat as well. He liked that part a lot, and the 'free' coffee. At least, Brendon was good at stealing coffee and downing a whole cup without his boss noticing and firing him.

"Sydney?" Brendon called out, snickering when his best friend and roommate walked up to the counter with a glare apparent on her face.

"I hate you so much, Brandon," Cindy told him in return and he just cackled. While he didn't work at Starbucks, misspelling his friends names then calling out was so much fun, even if they wanted to murder him because of it.

"I love you too, Cindy," he returned the affection, "You staying out late tonight?"

It was code – kind of. Brendon thought it would be cool to use code but Cindy said it was stupid and that she wouldn't use it so that idea died off like a lot of others that Brendon had.

Cindy nodded, "I think I'll stay out until two – maybe three if I have to."

"Alright, but don't forget that we have a morning class tomorrow and I won't hesitate waking up so that you don't miss it and leave me alone with Monroe," Brendon warned up, scrunching his nose up as he said the name.

Monroe was the resident creepy guy who always stood too close, referenced anime way too much, and actually ran to all his classes. Ran to them. Ran. Yeah, he didn't have friends and no one really wanted to become his. Brendon felt a bit bad until he remembered the time Monroe was sick and sneezed, getting snot all on his arm. Yeah, he didn't feel too bad when he thought about that.

Cindy groaned, "Why can't you just go alone? It'll be fine and I can actually get some sleep for once."

"No. Sleep if for the weak, which is why we have coffee," he grinned, watching the girl groan as she took a sip of her own cup.

"I hate you so much right now and I just really want you to know that. Like, I really want you to know much I want to murder you with my own bare hands right now," Cindy deadpanned but he wasn't frightened.

It was hard to be scared of Cindy even though she had super strength and went out basically every night as Silk – the better spider, in her words – because she had these eyes you could melt into and always tripped over the sidewalk while walking to class. Her personality seemed to change so much when the mask came on.

Now, Brendon had known about Silk for about a month, and it wasn't like Cindy had blessed him with the knowledge because she trusted him or anything, he found out on accident. It was after one of his shifts and he hadn't slept for days because he was writing a Phycology paper and he walked into the dorm room as Cindy had been stripping into her suit for the night.

Both of them had instantly frozen with wide eyes of shock, no words forming because Brendon was seeing that his best friend was a superhero ("Shut up, I just go around helping the city; I'm hardly anything like the Avengers") and for her because she had never told anyone else her identity.

They've been closer ever since.

"I'm so scared of you," Brendon said sarcastically, waving his hands for extra effect as he moved back behind the counter more when Cindy tried to hit him.

"Shut up. Bad guys definitely are when I come after them," Cindy said and he cackled a little.

"Yeah, that's when you're Silk. Right now, you're just Cindy Moon; the super genius who runs off of coffee and is trying to gain an internship at SI," Brendon said.

"And I'm almost done with my application, too," Cindy said, "Hopefully I'll get in."

"Oh, I know you'll get in. You're probably the smartest person I now besides Peter, but he's just so fucking smart it puts me in pain because I know I will never be as smart as him," Brendon told her, "But you might be on his level – I don't really know what his level is except it's really fucking high and out of my reach."

"Duh. He already has a Stark Internship – had it in high school, too – and he was our Salutatorian. Would've been Valedictorian if he hadn't skipped out of class so much," Cindy informed him.

"A bad boy, that's just my type."

Cindy rolled her eyes, "Everything about him is your type. The first time you met him you told me that you would either marry him or fuck him that night and since you didn't get your chance alone with him, it means you're marrying."

"And I'd make a great trophy husband to his smartness. He'll probably own a business or something – make so much fucking technology or cure cancer, something radical," Brendon then sighed, "I'd be so proud of him. We'd be great together."

To that, Cindy snorted at her friend, taking another sip of her burning coffee, "You barely even know him. He doesn't even like hanging out with us."

Brendon looked offended, "Hey! That's not true. He sits with us at lunch sometimes."

"Yeah, when Harry drags him over. Usually he sits with Ned and he never makes an effort to do something with us," Cindy said, "And Harry barely likes us."

"I'm not sure if he likes us at all, actually," Brendon corrected with a frown, "He just comes over for Bren."

Bren. Not to be confused with himself, Brendon Winchester, but Bren Cooper did share his name. They looked nothing alike and held basically nothing in common except their names and their place of work. Bren was currently taking orders at the counter while he slacked off – what a great worker.

Cindy sighed, "Yeah, that's true. It's cute, though. They're always blushing at each other and flirting and then looking away with lovesick smiles on their faces. God, I wish I had something like them."

"You have Betty," he offered, "I mean, she seems to like you and you like being around her."

"Betty and I are just friends, alright? Nothing more," Cindy clarified, "But I do wish I had a girlfriend...whatever, that doesn't matter much."

"Same."

"We know, Brendon," she said with a small eye roll that left him smiling innocently at her, "Your big, gay crush on Peter isn't exactly discreet."

"Good, maybe then he'll pick up on it," Brendon said decisively, taking the drink that Izzy handed to him and calling out the name, seeing someone walk up and take the cup from him. There was no smile in return.

"I doubt it. Peter is more oblivious than a blind bat – is that the saying? I think it is, but I'm not sure," Cindy frowned before waving it off, "Whatever. He won't pick up on it, but everyone else has."

Brendon frowned, disheartened a bit before saying, "Well, maybe Harry will tell him about it if he's so oblivious."

"Are you sure you want him to know?" Cindy ventured, looking at him apprehensively."

"Yeah...why wouldn't I?" Brendon furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, looking at his friend who was biting her lip.

"Well, for one, he might not like you – and then you'd never have a chance to be his trophy husband. Second, he barely even knows you. And third, he might not be into guys at all," Cindy treaded carefully.

Brendon physically deflated, falling to the counter as Izzy handed him another cup and read out the name, not caring about how they might get a complaint about 'horrible customer services' because he didn't smile at them as he pouted.

"I just want to be a great 'ol trophy husband and I might not be able to live my dreams," Brendon moaned, "Ugh, life is hard. Crushes are hard. I hate everything. I should just drop out of college and go home."

Cindy snorted, "I don't think so. I will not lose my best friend because you think your life is over since your crush barely even knows your name."

"He called me Brandon, Cindy, and he wasn't even joking! I hate him and his stupid face," Brendon complained.

"You'll be fine. You haven't even been here for half a year yet, just wait until you find your sugar daddy and have that kind of experience – then you can go home," Cindy smiled and took his hand in a comforting manner.

"Oh, Cindy, we both know that things like that only happens in the fanfics – if I wanna find a sugar daddy, I gotta make him one and then trap him by guilting him into staying," Brendon said, standing straight again.

"And that's your plan for Peter?"

He shrugged, "Maybe. I don't know. Like you said, it could be weird and he doesn't even know my name. I'd have better luck with Spider-Man at this rate."

Cindy threw her head back in laughter, letting it overtake her completely and he couldn't help but join in. What a funny joke...

"That's good. Oh, that's too good," Cindy said as she came down her hysterical high, "Man, you're funny."

"Thanks, I know," Brendon said cheekily, smiling at her as she stepped away from the counter.

"Alright, I should let you get back to work and start my own," Cindy said, "Farewell, see you tonight."

"Have fun!" he cheered, "And make me proud!"

"Don't I always?" Cindy gave a last smirk, turning around and walking out of the coffee shop.

Brendon didn't waste another moment before turning around and going to take more orders – which he was originally doing before he got distracted by Cindy. He ignored the glare from Bren who had to take the job in his absence, seeing as the boy hated taking orders from waiting customers.

"Sorry, got caught up in talking to Cindy," he apologized sheepishly as he smiled at the next customer and asked, "Hi, what can I get for you today?"

"Caught up my ass. I don't give a shit if you had a nice talk with her, she's your roommate. Talk when you aren't working," Bren growled, "Just be glad that Josie didn't see you."

Ah, Josie. The big, mean boss. Well, she wasn't mean exactly, but she was firm and knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it – and if you didn't bend to her every will, you were fired. Many people had come and gone during Brendon's time working at the coffee shop even though he'd only been there for a few months.

"Love you, too," Brendon smiled, writing down the order of the customer on the cup and then her name before telling her the cost.

"I'm sure you do, you asshole," was Bren's last response before he stalked away to go hand out the awaiting cups to customers as Brendon had been doing the previous minute.

The customer left to wait for her order and in her place stepped Harry Osborn – the prodigal son. "Hey there, Harry," Brendon greeted him warmly, probably better than he greeted most of the others who ordered.

"Hey, Brendon," Harry smiled, "Is Bren working today?"

He nodded, "Yep. You'll see him over there and please work your charm – he's a little mad at me right now. Oh – caramel, right?"

Harry nodded, not needing to explicitly say his order anymore since Brendon knew it by heart, only Harry changed the flavor of his from vanilla, chocolate, and caramel frequently but for the past week he'd just been getting caramel.

"Why is Bren mad at you?" Harry asked as he swiped his card.

"I stayed talking to Cindy over there for too long and he had to get orders from customers," the Winchester boy explained, Harry humming in acknowledgement since both knew that Bren despised the job more than anything.

"Nice, I'll go butter him up for you," Harry teased, his signature smile that made the masses swoon being sent Brendon's way.

Before, at the beginning of the year when Harry fucking Osborn sat at his lunch table, he couldn't help but crush like a teenage girl – or what he was like in middle school when he was figuring out his sexuality in the locker room. God, those were really hard times. But, after spending time with the famous blond, he realized that Harry had a personality that didn't align with his enough for him to keep crushing on the boy and they became good friends.

Plus, Harry and Bren were practically a thing even if they were denying it – how cute.

Harry moved away, talking Bren who immediately brightened at the sight of the Osborn boy. Brendon chuckled to himself and smiled at the on waiting customer before taking their order as well, falling into his usual routine.

And when the day became darker and his shift was coming to an end, the amount of students dwindled down until it was closing time and no customers were inside. He wiped off the counter as Bren swept the floor and Izzy began restocking everything for those with the morning shift.

A silence fell between them but Brendon didn't mind. Izzy was done first and she didn't stay behind, grabbing her stuff and leaving them with a final goodbye. Bren hummed himself a happy tune, which he usually did after Harry came to visit the coffee shop. Being the good friend he was, Brendon didn't comment on it.

Soon, though, the floors were swept clean and Brendon was still moving and wiping off the tables. Bren announced himself with a large sigh as he swung on his backpack.

"Well, this is where I leave you," Bren said as he went to the door.

"Goodnight," Brendon told him, "Get some sleep, okay?"

Bren groaned, "Can't. I have a paper due tomorrow in English and I'm only halfway through it."

"You've known about the paper for two weeks," Brendon deadpanned and the other boy smiled.

"I know, but I just didn't feel like doing any of it and now I have to finish it. Well, wish me luck, name twin," Bren said before opening the door and leaving the establishment.

Brendon shook his head, rolling his eyes at the mention of the nickname. Since they shared names – though Bren didn't accept being called his full name – the Cooper boy thought it only appropriate to call Brendon his name twin. He didn't mind the nickname, honestly, it was just a bit ridiculous. But, if it made Bren happy, he wouldn't comment on it.

He sang to himself softly, finishing up the tables before throwing it away and going to the back to grab his stuff. Getting his phone and earbuds, he placed them in and played some music. He hummed along softly to them and couldn't help if there was an extra bit of jazz in his step because of the upbeat nature of the song.

Going outside, he took the keys from their hidden place and locked the door, not turning around as he did since he was too focused on the music flooding in his ears. Once he finished, he placed the keys back to their place and turned around, freezing immediately at the sight before him.

A boy in red and blue spandex stood before him, seemingly dazed and out of reality. Brendon wasn't too sure – there was a mask covering his face – but he had seen the stance many times on Cindy when she came back from swinging and couldn't help but compare the two.

Neither of them moved, Brendon too shocked to do anything but stare at the superhero who had been seen with Iron Man (Iron Man!). His breath was caught in his throat until finally, finally, he regained his voice and unfroze, blurting out the thought that had been plaguing his mind since he saw the spandex superhero:

"Holy shit, you're Spider-Man!"

ramblings
chapter one is done! i wanted to have this up last week but i just didn't have the time, so sorry. i like this chapter more than what it was originally because we get to see brendon interacting with cindy, bren, and harry and see his really big crush on peter. hopefully i'll have chapter two up next week but i do have midterms starting then so who knows