if i can't have you || rini au

05. run in

"no-okay, a little to the left-wait no, kevin, your other left," the brunette woman said as she gestured to the man holding the banner, following her instructions

the café held only a couple customers, seeing as it was nearing the end of the day on a monday and the woman was excited yet anxious for the visitor she was waiting for.

"-i'm going to hang this now, erica, otherwise the chocolate cake is going to burn," kevin told her as he made his way down the ladder

"oh come on, nothing's ever burnt in that kitchen since 2015, and that wasn't my fault," she reminded him with a grin, putting the ladder away

"he was a kid, cut the guy a break," kevin chuckled "besides, without him, you wouldn't have half of the pastries that are here on display," he smirked as he disappeared off into the kitchen

erica shook her head with a soft chuckle as she made her way around the counter, taking a few pastries and placing them in a little paper bag before she made her way towards a table further away

"here you are," she smiled

"oh, thank you erica!" the older woman beamed as she got up "what would we do without you?"

"well, the world would crumble," she sighed jokingly, the woman laughing softly as she bid goodbye and made her way out of the shop.

"oh! pardon me!"

"it's alright deary," the woman smiled as she passed the brunette girl holding a suitcase and backpack as she let the woman pass her before entering the coffee shop, followed by a man holding two suitcases

the hair-braided girl gasped as she took in her surroundings, everything exactly like it had been described to her. it was everything she'd ever wanted to imagine.

"miss, are you sure this is the right-"

"nini!"

the girl looked over and squealed in happiness when seeing her aunt rush over to her, embracing her in a tight hug as nini laughed over her shoulder

"aunt erica!" she exclaimed

"never mind," benjamin sighed as he struggled to put the suitcases a little to the side and move them all out of the entrance way.

"i've missed you!" erica beams "how was the flight?"

"well-"

"oh my god, i love airports and airplanes!" nini interrupted benjamin "did you know that they don't actually give out little bags of peanuts all the time? turns out it's only in movies," she shrugged

erica shook her head with a smile as she glanced at benjamin

"hey ben," she greeted

benjamin took a deep breath and nodded "erica."

"nice to see you!" she smirked "still wearing the same sweater vests from when we kids i see."

benjamin sighed, rolling his eyes "i didn't come here to ask for fashion advice,"

"you know what they say, 'help those in need'!" erica replied

"alright, i'm going to bring the suitcases upstairs before we get more people's attention who are trying to enjoy their food - or risk their lives by having a chance of getting food poisoning." he muttered the last part

"i heard that and my food is actually good ben, maybe if you tried something new-"

"oh no, i'd like to stay alive long enough to enjoy my elder years," he replied