Chapter Text
''Lance, honey, I love you, but'' Esteban took a deep breath before continuing ''How did this even happen?'' he waved his hand, pointing at the puddle of liquid on the floor. A mixture for Paloma. Tequila and citrus soda. Lance looked up, a bit afraid to meet his friend's eyes. He sighed, bent down, grabbed the glass he knocked over and threw it away in the bin.
''I'm sorry, Este.'' his friend patted him on the shoulder, an understanding smile on his face. He shook his head and grabbed a mop.
''I'm going to clean this up. You go and freshen yourself. Have a cigarette or something.'' Lance nodded, removing his latex gloves, throwing them in the bin as well, taking his apron off, folding it in half and shoving it on a shelf next to the mini fridge that they had.
He sat on the bench right in front of the Bar. A sigh left his lips. The streets were calm, a lonely street lamp providing dimmed light, a contrast between the atmosphere back inside, all the neon lights and loud noises. He did enjoy his job a lot, but sometimes, in moments like this, he hated it.
He lit a cigarette, letting the night breeze hit his face. Esteban was right-he did need it. There was no reason for him to be as nervous as he is right now tho. He has been working as a bartender for the past three months. Since he moved to London. He may not be very experienced, but it wasn't his first time, either. He knew how to mix two liquids without making a mess. Apparently not. At least the person who ordered that drink had asked Lily-the waitress, to get it for him. Man was too wasted to stand on his own feet. At least it saved Lance from additional embarrassment. Another sigh was about to leave his lips but it was rudely disrupted by someone opening the door to the Bar, and exiting it. Lance looked up, seeing a man, probably around his 40s, dressed in a suit, but somehow, he managed to not look stiff, unlike most people would, wearing that outfit. He was still having something fresh in him. Something fierce. Maybe it was the messy hair or the sharp smile on his face. Or it was the glimpse in his eyes. A shine that shouldn't be there having in mind, it was currently the middle of the night.
''Why is a beauty like you sitting outside all alone?'' the man sat on the bench next to Lance and lit a cigarette of his own, looking up at him, eyes pleading for an answer, shining even brighter. Lance just shrugged and tucked his chin forward, asking him to continue.''Would you mind joining me for a drink after we finish smoking? My treat.'' he winked, and the wrinkles around his eyes deepened.
''But I work here'' It's not like he wasn't allowed to drink at work. No alcohol, although he could have a drink or two without getting tipsy. He often drank a coffee martini in the morning. And Esteban has done this before: drinking with a client, that was flirting with him. Was that man flirting tho? It did look like it. But someone to flirt with Lance? That's a bit weird. The last time someone flirted with him, it was a bet. A joke. But this guy-right here. He looked genuine. And they didn't have an audience. If it was a joke-no one would know. What, would he tell his friends about it? He seems to be too old for something like this. Lance shook his head. ''Sorry''
''Ah,'' the man pushed his lips forward, then smiled. He took another drag from his cigarette and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. He looked a bit disappointed, sad even. Lance took a breath and properly looked at the man. He was attractive, no denying that. Lance was long past the phase of denial. Where he would try and convince himself that the crush he had on a guy was just platonic feelings. I just like him as a friend. Something he would tell himself often. He was scared. But not anymore. Nothing to be scared of. Men, women. Who cares. He could sleep with whoever he wanted. Still, needed embarrassingly long to admit that to himself.
They finished smoking in silence. Lance stood first, standing right in front of the guy as if to stop him from standing up himself. He bit his lower lip, thinking of how to formulate his sentence. And then, he finally spoke.
''I have an hour until my shift ends'' give or take ''If you are still up for a drink'' And he entered the bar faster than he would like to admit. Not waiting for the other's reaction. Not even looking at him. He was embarrassed. He did, after all, agreed on what that guy proposed, didn't he? He felt his face hot while rushing to go behind the bar counter. And judging by Esteban's smile, he was, in fact, red.
''So he did go out to flirt with you'' his friend chuckled ''Now put your apron back on. We are still at work'' Lance stared at his friend while tying his apron at the back.
''Since when does Esteban The Great care about work more than he cares about some gossiping?'' he let a chuckle of his own.
''Oh, Lancelot I can totally work and gossip, but it will be rude to do so while he is less than five meters away, no?'' Esteban pointed at the man, who was walking towards them. He had a wide frame. Muscular. But not in an 'over the top way. It fitted him well.
''He didn't flirt with me'' he whispered, while washing his hands. Even if he was putting gloves on, the smell of cigarettes would still come through. Although, he could guess that his next client wouldn't mind that.
''We meet again'' his voice was raspier than just mere minutes ago. Or was Lance going crazy? Maybe it was the latter. The man stretched his back and turned around saying, or more correctly, yelling something in Spanish to the people he came with.
Oh.
Oh.
Lance swallowed thickly and nodded toward the man when he turned to face him again. ''What would you like to-''
''Agua de Valencia'' he was interrupted before being able to finish his question ''If you have it of course.'' the older man smiled his eyes staring directly into Lance's.
''Of course, we do'' It was a lie tho. They didn't. That wasn't to say he didn't know how to make it. Gin, vodka, cava, orange juice and sugar. They had all the ingredients. They had all the ingredients for Paloma as well, but he managed to fail at it. And it was only two ingredients. He shook his head and inhaled deeply. He needed to focus. What happened earlier was an accident. It's alright now.
He prepared the drink without any hiccups and gave it to the man, this time him being the one to smile. A shy smile, barely reaching his eyes, but a smile nonetheless. The man sipped from it and hummed approvingly.
''Back in Spain, me and my friends used to drink this a lot. And this here'' he lifts his glass a bit ''its taste comes very close to how it tasted back then. You should come to Spain just to try it.''
Lance nodded, not really knowing how to react to any of this. He looked around seeing that a good bit of their clients were preparing to go. Maybe his shift could end a bit earlier. He felt eyes on his eyes and turned toward Esteban, who was sipping on a glass of wine, eyebrow lifted, and a smirk was sprawled over his face. He hated seeing his friend this smug.
''As much as I enjoy the weird staring contest you guys are having, I really need five shots of vodka''
Ah, Lily. Right. Lance almost forgot she was here today. Serving, that's usually Pierre's work. But he was sick or something, Lance didn't know and Pierre didn't exactly care to explain either. So he was probably fine. But having Lily here at night, and not during their daily shifts, was a bit odd. It was much more usual to see her around Alex and George. Non that Lance had a problem with her. Not at all. He was actually glad Pierre wasn't currently at the bar. Lance has been in cold waters with his roommate-Lando, for a while and he didn't really want to answer Pierre's questions about it. That guy is sometimes too curious for his own good.
''I'll make them'' Esteban practically jumped at Lily's request, carefully placing his glass on the bar counter ''Those two are busy flirting with each other'' his friend pointed at him and the older man, after which he received a punch on his arm.
''Our Lance? Flirting?'' Lily raised an eyebrow, giggling. She grabbed the tray and headed towards the table that asked for the shots ''Yeah, sure'' she said something else, but the music muffled it.
''Eh, Lance, no? That's what she said right?'' the question, weirdly enough, wasn't towards him. It was towards Esteban, who nodded, a little chuckle leaving his lips. He was having way too much fun with this ''Fernando'' this time the man-no, Fernando, was turned towards him. The name fitted him, a lot at that. It was perfect for him. Lance smiled, this time the smile reached his eyes.
Fernando. He seems nice.