Lucien had spent three hours perfecting the dessert display before Ashley's date. Each pastry was arranged with mathematical precision, forming concentric circles of golden browns and creamy whites. The flower pen bobbed in his pocket as he adjusted a croissant slightly.

"The desserts aren't going to rearrange themselves if you look away," Mr. Kim teased, watching his son fuss with the display for the tenth time. "Though they might file a complaint about excessive handling."

"I just want everything to be perfect." Lucien straightened a row of muffins that didn't need straightening.

"For Ashley's date?" His father's voice was gentle. "Or for yourself?"

Before Lucien could answer, the bell above the door chimed. Ashley walked in wearing a simple blue dress that made her honey-blonde hair glow in the café's warm lighting. Arek followed, looking almost nervous in a black button-down that actually appeared to have been ironed.

"Welcome to Café Bean," Lucien's voice came out steadier than he expected. "Your table is ready."

He led them to the corner table he'd specially prepared, complete with a small vase holding a single wildflower - a subtle callback to Arek's bouquet. Ashley's eyes lit up at the detail, and Lucien felt a bittersweet warmth in his chest at her smile.

The next hour passed in a blur of coffee orders and stolen glances. Lucien tried not to hover, but he couldn't help noticing how Ashley laughed at Arek's jokes, how their hands occasionally brushed across the table. Each time, he gripped his flower pen a little tighter.

Then the bell chimed again.

A young man in a coat and sunglasses slipped in, despite the darkness outside. He chose a table with a clear view of Ashley and Arek, his movements tense and deliberate. Something about his posture sent warning signals through Lucien's mind.

"Can I take your order?" Lucien approached the mysterious customer.

The man jumped slightly. "No! I mean... just... water is fine." He hunched lower in his seat, eyes fixed on Ashley's table.

Lucien's protective instincts flared. He'd seen enough suspicious characters during his years at the café to recognize potential trouble. Instead of getting water, he moved to intercept the stranger's path to Ashley's table.

"Sir, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to—" Lucien reached for the man's wrist.

The sudden contact made the stranger jerk back, sending his sunglasses clattering to the floor. Their eyes met, and Lucien felt the world tilt sideways.

The stranger's eyes were a warm brown that seemed to hold galaxies, fierce and protective and somehow vulnerable all at once. A faint blush crept across his cheeks as they stared at each other, neither quite able to look away.

"I..." Lucien's usual stutter returned with reinforcements. "I'm s-sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, I'm sorry," the stranger's voice was surprisingly soft. "I must look super creepy right now." He ran a hand through his dark hair, messing it up in a way that made Lucien's heart do something complicated. "I'm Luca. Ashley's friend. Best friend. I was just..." He glanced at Ashley's table. "Checking on her."

"Oh." The tension left Lucien's shoulders. "You're Luca. Ashley's told me about you. I'm Lucien."

"Lucien?" Luca's eyes widened with recognition. "The café Lucien? The one who makes the lavender honey cake that Ashley won't shut up about?"

Now it was Lucien's turn to blush. "It's just basic chemistry really. The honey has to be heated to exactly the right temperature to—" He caught himself rambling. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Luca's smile made his eyes crinkle at the corners. "I'd love to hear more about your chemistry."

"Would you like to sit?" Lucien gestured to a quiet corner. "I could get you something better than water. On the house."

"I shouldn't..." Luca glanced at Ashley again, who was completely absorbed in whatever story Arek was telling. "But maybe just for a minute?"

Lucien found himself leading Luca to a small table, away from the windows but with a clear view of Ashley's date. As he prepared two cups of his special hot chocolate - the recipe he usually saved for rough days - he caught himself humming softly.

The flower pen bobbed happily in his pocket as he carried the drinks back to the table, where Luca had removed his coat to reveal a band t-shirt underneath. Lucien recognized the logo - it was one of his favorite indie groups.

"You like The Silent Poets?" They both spoke at the same time, then laughed.

"Their lyrics are incredible," Luca said, accepting the hot chocolate. "The way they write about loneliness and connection..."

"And the guitar work in 'Midnight Confessions,'" Lucien added, forgetting to be shy in his enthusiasm.

"That bridge! The way it builds and then just..." Luca made an explosive gesture with his hands, nearly knocking over his drink.

Lucien caught the cup automatically, their fingers brushing. That same electric feeling from their first touch sparked between them.

"Sorry," they said in unison again.

Across the café, Ashley laughed at something Arek said, the sound carrying clearly to their corner. Luca's expression shifted, his protective instincts warring with something else - possibly the way Lucien's knee was accidentally brushing his under the small table.

"She seems happy," Lucien offered quietly.

"Yeah." Luca sighed, then managed a small smile. "Maybe we both need to learn to let her be happy her way."

Their eyes met again, both sharing a small smile before looking away from each other.

"So," Luca cleared his throat. "Tell me more about this lavender honey cake. I hear it's life-changing."

Lucien felt a smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it all starts with the temperature control..."

The café's warm light wrapped around them as they talked, their voices getting softer, their chairs imperceptibly shifting closer. The flower pen sat forgotten in Lucien's pocket, no longer needed as a comfort object. Something about Luca's presence made him forget to be nervous, forget to measure his words or count the space between his breaths.