Work Text:
I need a new job.
The words, so familiar from daily repetition, echoed in Ben's mind as he trudged against his exhaustion.
He didn't hate his job, he just took the earliest shift imaginable. He'd probably like his job if he worked any other time, and he knew that, too. But, early shifts in an inconveniently located coffee shop meant fewer customers. Fewer customers meant easy money for Ben, being paid by the hour.
However, he often found himself incredibly bored. After serving some regulars, it was up to Ben to keep himself occupied until the next shift. And, just to his luck, he usually worked alone. The underemployed shop focused more on the post 9-5 office job work rush, because Ben made the early-morning rush seem like no big deal. And it wasn't, not for Ben. He was good at his job. He made good coffee, worked quickly, and didn't hate small talk; that's all he needed.
Well, that's all he needed when he was actually doing his job. After every other employed person in Brooklyn had begun their job and gotten their drinks, Ben had nothing to do except wait.
---
Ricky still couldn't quite figure out this damned city.
No matter how hard he tried, ending up on a new road would usually end with him asking for directions to one of the few places he knew.
After moving to Brooklyn, Ricky took his time to figure out a few routes. His dingy school, his house, Brookie's home, and a few diners he liked. Other than that? It didn't exist to him!
However, a small map managed to completely change this for Ricky. Exploring the city was annoying, as he had no sense of direction. But he was good at reading maps. Sure, he felt like a pirate with his little map, but he didn't mind.
With his map, Ricky spent weekends exploring Brooklyn. Some days, Ricky would find a groovy diner he would plan to show Brookie, even though he had probably been there several times. Others, he'd find a mellow little bookstore, selling records that he knew Ben would like.
One morning, he decided to spend the entire day "sightseeing" in the city he'd lived in for two years. Leaving at the ass-crack of the day, 9 a.m., Ricky started up his motorbike and began driving aimlessly.
He'd parked the bike on the road as a cozy-looking coffee shop had caught his eye. Really, it was the name "Chock Full O' Nuts" that caught his eye. He had begun snickering about the name as soon as he read the words, and decided he might as well see what the Nuts Place had to offer.
Dodging the late-to-work traffic, Ricky awkwardly trotted across the road toward the building. It appeared quiet inside, the only indication that it was even open being the sign hanging from the door. He pressed the door open, stopping in his tracks and his heart fluttering as soon as he made eye contact with the oh-so familiar barista.
--
Looking up, Ben nearly repeated the phrase he'd said many times before to every customer. However, the pale blue eyes he'd grown to miss every day stared back at him, freezing him momentarily.
After staring at each other, Ricky stepped forward, and Ben began to speak.
"Ricky? What are you doing here?"
Ricky hesitated. He didn't know why he was here, really. He doesn't even like coffee. So, he was honest.
"Well, I was driving around and this place caught my eye. I thought I might as well check it out."
Ben figured this was probably the truth, but couldn't help but question him.
"Oh, sure," he teased. "You totally didn't come here because you knew I was here. What, did you ask Donna where I work, you stalker?"
"Uh, no!" Ricky defended. "I came here because the name said Nuts. And that's funny. Yeah." Nice one, jackass he thought to himself. Maybe the stalker route would've been less weird.
Thankfully, Ben laughed. Sure, it was just a light chuckle, if you could even call it that. But he smiled. His smile lit up the room, and any of Ricky's embarrassment fluttered away as he admired his Brookie. As he stared a little too long, Ben spoke.
"So..did you come here just to stare at me, or do you want something?"
Ricky realized that he was in a coffee shop, and should get something. Ignoring the large menu above him, he spoke.
"Well, what d'you have for me?"
"I'm not going to list the entire menu for you." Ben protested. "Either look at it yourself, or I'll just make you something you'll like.”
“Something I’ll like?”
“Alright, then, hold on.”
Ricky hadn’t meant to choose that option, but he was grateful he wouldn’t have to debate on what to get.
After a minute, Ben presented a hot plastic cup to Ricky. He hadn’t said what it was at all, and Ricky didn’t bother to ask. He figured he’d probably like it. If not, he wouldn’t complain. Ricky began to dig in his pockets for loose change before Ben stopped him.
“You don’t have to pay. It’s…on the house.” Ben interrupted. It was as if he’d expected Ricky to assume it was on the house, and was shocked he’d even think about paying. Ricky was confused, to say the least.
“Really? Doesn’t that take away from your paycheck?”
“No, shitbird. I get paid by the hour. Plus, this place sucks, I don’t mind giving out a few free drinks.”
Ricky grinned. He muttered a quick “Thanks” before trying the drink that Ben handed him. He cooled it with his breath before impatiently taking a drink, slightly burning his tongue. The drink was delicious, it was like hot chocolate but…better. He couldn’t describe it. It was nearly gone pretty quickly, despite the high temperature.
“Wow, Brookie,” He began. “You really do make good drinks. I thought you were bluffing. How long have you worked here, again?”
Ben rolled his eyes at the slightly back-handed compliment. He smiled, though, and leaned against the counter as he spoke. “Only around a year. I started close to my birthday last year. That’s probably why I’m good with hot chocolate, I started working close to winter.”
Ben continued talking, but Ricky hadn’t been paying attention. Instead of listening to Ben, he watched him. Admired. The dark apron was tied tightly around his waist, his sleeves rolled-up, and the rare lack of suspenders. It was all so familiar but so new. Like seeing a teacher at a grocery store, but a million times better. Ricky took final sips off of his drink, now paying attention to what Ben was saying.
--
He sat there for two hours talking to Ben, keeping him company during the lonely shift. Very few customers passed through the shop while Ricky was there, so he knew he wasn’t keeping Ben away from any work.
When the lunch rush began, Ben suggested that he’d better leave before too many people crowded the place. Ricky finally dragged himself away, but he knew one thing for certain as he left.
He found his new favorite coffee shop.