Chapter Text
Charon didn’t have all that many options when it came to places to get coffee on his way to work. One because Elysium was a smaller town, two being because he was Deaf and only one of the places he had been too even tried to accommodate him. No one there knew Sign Language, or at least not on the morning shift, but they left a notepad on the counter for him and because of that he’d been coming back almost every day. One of many regulars at Styx Cafe.
Today something, or rather, someone is different. Charon noticed the new barista almost as soon as he stepped through the door. He was managing the front part of the cafe on his own with the sort of energy Charon believed should be illegal this early in the day. He had a pretty good handle on things though because the line moved quickly.
When he got to the counter Charon reached for the notepad, but a hand over it stopped him. He looked up mildly frustrated. He didn’t have the time or energy to explain to yet another trainee that he was the person the notepad was reserved for. Much to his surprise the man, Hermes according to his nametag, began to sign.
“You C-H-A-R-O-N?” He asked, “Take Coffee Black With Three Sugar?”
“You Sign?” He cuts across instead of answering, his surprise getting the better of him in the end.
Hermes grins and pulls his hair away from his ear to reveal an almost neon orange hearing aid, “Hard Of Hearing. You?”
Charon brings his index finger from his ear to his mouth, “Deaf.” He remembered the question moments later, “Yes. Large Black Coffee Three Sugar.”
Hermes nods and taps in the order before getting to work on it. Charon is smiling just slightly as he waits, his morning feels a little brighter. When his coffee comes up it’s paired with a donut.
“On House.” Hermes explains with a wink.
“Thank You.” He says and leaves a bigger tip than usual before continuing on his way to work.
He goes through his day a little lighter. Despite his best efforts, he can’t get away from the thrift shop in time to go back to Styx during the morning shift, but he finds himself looking forward to tomorrow. There is finally someone else in this tiny town that speaks his language.