You say that I'm kinda difficult, but it's always someone else's fault.

Just a heads up, George starts out a bit more... well, bitchy, than the cc, but eventually he'll mellow out into the Gogy we all know and love.

----------

     The same old bell tolling over the door signaled the start of another new day, and as usual, George couldn't be less enthused.

He stormed into the back of the cafe, not bothering to so much as look in the direction of his coworkers as he immediately went to clock in. As soon as he was being paid for his time, next came the mandatory stop at the breakroom coffee machine.

Today he was especially tired, so the steaming coffee pot felt more like a saving grace than it usually did. The smell was refreshing even as it stung his nose. He savored the small moment of peace while it lasted, picking out the largest cup he was allowed to use and filling it. Almost everyone knew better than to bother him this early so he took his time, leaning against the counter and slowly taking a sip of the hot black coffee.

The satisfying bitterness washed over his tongue and he let out a soft sigh, mentally bracing himself for what was to come-

"Well, good morning to you too, Gogy."

And there it was.

The one person who never ceased to piss him off.

Peace ruined, George turned to glare at his least favorite coworker. He had that stupid annoying smirk on his face, arms crossed and practically sitting on top of one of the breakroom's tables like he owned the place.

George grit his teeth before spitting out "I don't want to deal with you today, Sapnap."

The man had the nerve to roll his eyes. "I don't want to deal with that attitude."

"Then piss off, make us both happy."

This earned him an annoyed huff as Sapnap stood. "Don't you think it would be more productive if, oh I don't know, we actually work together for once?"

"I think it would be more 'productive' of you to shut your mouth and stay out of my way for once."

George didn't wait for a reply, shoving past the other man and taking a big gulp of his coffee as he made his way to the counter. Looks like he'd just have to drink it between orders, there was no getting his peace back now.

And so began the workday. The usual bustle of customer after customer took over, filled with the usual plastic service smiles and dotted with exasperated breaks to sip at his coffee before a new ring at the door dragged him back into the fray. He faintly registered a melody being played by the guitarist that stopped by to do live music a few days a week, but like usual, it wasn't long before it faded from his focus.

However, one thing was different than usual today.

Sapnap would not leave him alone.

At almost every turn the man was there, stupid smirk and stupid laugh and stupid mocking nicknames.

George's tolerance for bullshit was already dangerously low and any customer with a fraction of his own temper wore it thin enough. The last thing he needed was his brute of a coworker stepping in at every opportunity, and yet, that's what Sap decided to do.

The universe had to be testing him today. Between Sapnap's incessant attempts at conversations, snatching drinks and orders from his hands to do them himself, and the redheaded kid that showed up one day almost giving a customer George's coffee, to top it all off it seemed like it was the day of over-complicated orders as well.

His break couldn't come soon enough. In fact, as soon as he ran out of coffee, he decided to take it sooner than he normally did.

Once he stepped into the breakroom it finally felt like he could breathe. Only when he had a moment of peace did he realize how hard it was to keep from snapping out there.

After refilling his coffee George practically sank into one of the chairs, burying his head into his arms for a moment to let out a loud groan.

This would be so much easier if Sapnap could take a damn hint for once. He never wanted anything to do with the man from the second they met. George took one look at that cocky grin and knew he'd be trouble, and sure enough, there was no one alive who was more of a pain in the ass to deal with.

And yet, their manager hadn't given them different shifts. She just expected them to get along.

As if his life wasn't already hard enough as it is.

The door to the breakroom opened and shut with a careless slam and George had to keep himself from groaning again.

There was only one person here inconsiderate and noisy enough to-

"So..."

Another chair was moved with a screech and the table shifted with a new weight.

George lifted his head enough to send a glare at Sapnap, who didn't even appear to notice. He just rested his chin on a palm, grinning and staring almost expectantly at the Brit.

After a moment of silence, he huffed a sigh. "What?"

Sapnap's grin stretched wider. "C'mon, wasn't that easier?"

George's teeth grit and despite being colorblind, he swore he saw red.

"Like, I have no clue how you always try to do everything, dude! Of course you're grumpy as hell, you must be stressed out of your mind. Why don't you just let us help more of-"

The table jolted as George abruptly stood, snatching his coffee and heading back to the breakroom door. "Fucking hell, do I get no goddamn peace today?!"

He just wanted this damn day to be over already. He'd rather sit alone in his silent apartment than be here surrounded by loud, annoying-

"What the hell, dude? I'm just trying to help!"

"I don't need your 'help', I don't need anyone's help!"

He just wanted the day to be over. His apartment wasn't home, but at least it still served as a sort of sanctuary.

"For fuck's sake, George, what's wrong with you?"

George pushed through the door, nearly crashing into two of his coworkers. He could hear Sapnap continuing his pursuit but he couldn't care less.

"Can you listen to me for a damn minute?"

He was so sick and tired of this.

George spun on his heel with flames on his tongue and ready to fly-

Sapnap ran right into him and his full cup of coffee spilled.

It got everywhere but most had landed on George himself, the hot liquid seeping through his clothes.

Sapnap gasped, turning to grab napkins. "Oh, shit, sorry!"

It was the final straw.

"You absolute dumbass, now look what you've done!"

"Jesus Christ, it wasn't on purpose-"

The man reached over to attempt to clean his mistake but George smacked the napkins out of his hand.

"I don't want to fucking hear it. You arse, I can't believe out of all people in the world I have to deal with you almost every fucking day!"

Sparks lit in Sapnap's eyes and he stepped back. "Well fine. Clean up your own mess, dickhead. Not like I've been trying to be nice to you all fucking day!"

"You have been nothing but a brute and a pest!"

"You're never anything but an asshole!"

"I'm so fucking tired of you and your attitude!"

"I'm the one with the attitude?"

"You're insufferable!"

"You never give me a chance!"

"God, just shut up. I'm going to have to wash coffee stains off my clothes, do you know how annoying that is?" George grabbed napkins himself, starting to clean the mess as best he could.

Sapnap kicked the fallen cup closer to George's feet. "Why am I even trying anymore? Every time I try to be friendly you treat it like... like some kind of taunt! I don't fucking understand!"

"Oh please, 'friendly'? You're a nuisance at best! If I had a choice I'd never have to deal with your stupid fucking-"

"Gentlemen."

The two froze.

Turning around, George locked eyes with their boss, coworker Niki at her side with arms crossed.

"My office, now."

He withheld a sigh, shooting a glare at Sapnap before following after.

This wasn't the first time the manager pulled them into her office. George silently hoped this would be the turning point that got her to swap their damn shifts already.

She breathed out a heavy sigh as she sat down, folding her hands on her desk. "Alright. What's the deal today? And-" she lifted a finger when they each started to speak, "One at a time."

George cast a glance at Sapnap and saw the other man roll his eyes and give a nod in George's direction, letting him go first.

"He's been following me around and bothering me all day, and when I got sick of it and confronted him about it, he ran into me and made me spill my coffee."

"I've been trying to help you all day, but I forgot you're too much of a prissy bitch to accept it. And for the last time, it was an accident! I said sorry, I tried to help clean it up, what more do you want from me?"

Their boss cleared her throat before George could retort. "How many more times are we going to have to do this song and dance, you two?"

Sapnap scoffed, arms crossed and pouting in an almost childish display. "Ask him, he started it. It's always him-"

"And then you always escalate it!" she interrupted. "And then it leads to this. Any other manager would have fired you by now. I thought I was being generous, but now I'm starting to think I've been letting too much shit slide. When you get in your little screaming matches it chases away customers, not to mention the position it puts your fellow workers in. I bet Niki's out there, cleaning up after your mess right now, instead of manning the bakery. It's not their job to clean up after you. It is, however, part of your job, to be able to work together!"

George took his opportunity. "With all due respect, ma'am, I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe it's about time we were put on different shifts-"

"I think it's about time that you apologize and change your behavior, George."

Apologize.

There was no way in hell that was happening.

"But ma'am-"

"No buts. This has gone on for long enough."

It was George's turn to cross his arms and scoff, not even needing to look at Sapnap to know he had that cocky look on his face again. "I don't think that's deserved."

Their boss let out yet another sigh. "George, I'm letting you off early. Don't bother coming in tomorrow unless it's with an apology. You're both dismissed."

He turned to leave without another word.

The liquid seeping into his clothes had gone cold and it was going to be hell walking back to his apartment, but the sooner he got there the sooner he could think of what to do.

An apology was completely off the table. He wasn't going to admit defeat to Sapnap any time soon. He would have to find a way to fake it.