Work Text:
Day 1
“Mav, Mav, Mav!” Bradley tugs at Pete's hand, bouncing up and down with excitement. He has just picked him up from his piano lesson a few streets down from where the Bradshaws live and where Pete spends his leave as always.
“What is it?” Pete asks the five year old boy, feigning ignorance with a chuckle. He knows exactly what Bradley means but it's just too much fun to pretend he doesn't know.
“Uncle Maaaaav,” Bradley laughs. “Can’t you hear that?”
“Huh?”
“Uncle Maaaav, it's an ice cream truck!”
“That's right, baby bird.” He ruffles through Bradley's hair. “Want to get some?”
“Yes!”
–
Tom hasn't even pulled his ice cream truck into its parking position when there's already a short line of people waiting on the side of his truck. Tom nods to himself. It was a good decision to choose this neighborhood. Suburban, many children of various ages, perfect conditions to sell a hell lot of ice cream.
A few minutes later, he opens the side of his truck, gets behind the counter and takes the first order.
“We’re next up in line. Have you already decided what you want? We don't want to keep the people behind us waiting for too long,” he hears a man say softly. He is surprised by his consideration. You don't get that often, especially not when you sell such an emotional product as ice cream.
Tom serves the customer first in line and doesn't catch the response of whoever the man was talking to but he thinks he'll figure it out soon enough.
He puts the money he has just received in his register and wishes him a nice day. When he looks back up there is a black haired man with a little boy on his hip standing in front of him.
“Hello, what can I get you two?” Tom asks.
“Do you want to place your order yourself?” The man asks the boy- his son? They don't look similar but that doesn't have to mean anything.
The little boy shakes his head and the man rubs his back supportively before turning towards Tom.
“Okay so, vanilla and strawberry for the baby bird and for me chocolate and hazelnut please,” the man says and shoots Tom a movie star smile.
“Cone or cup?” Tom asks as he ignores the warmth forming in his chest. This man has a kid and probably a wife in one of these houses. Get your grip together, Tom , he scolds himself.
“Cone or cup?” The man transfers the question to his son. He replies but it's so quiet Tom doesn't catch his answers.
“Cones for both of us, please.”
Tom nods and after a minute places the two ice cream cones in the stand on the counter. “Here you go. Six dollars, please.”
The man pulls his wallet out of his back pocket, then somehow, almost impressively, opens it one-handedly and holds it in front of his kid. “See the one with the little ten in the corner? Take that one.”
The boy follows his instructions.
“Thanks, mate. Now you can hand it to the nice ice cream man.”
The boy nods reluctantly, then stretches out his arm equally reluctantly.
“Thank you, little man.” Tom takes the money, puts it in his register, then hands out the change to the boy.
“That's our change, Bradley. You can take it.”
The boy does so, hands the dollar notes to his father who then sets the boy back on his feet, puts the money back in his wallet and hands the boy his ice cream cone before grabbing his own.
“Thank you and have a nice day,” he says and before Tom can even reply they are gone and the next customers, two teenage girls, demand his attention.
Day 2
“Uncle Mav, can we get ice cream from the truck again today?”
“Oh, I don't know if the truck will be here today.”
Bradley pouts. “But I want ice cream.”
“I'm sure your mom still has something in the freezer.”
“I want ice cream from the truck!”
Pete checks his watch. “Ok, we'll try but I can't promise you anything.”
–
Yesterday went so well, Tom decides to drive up to the same spot again. And just as the day before, soon enough there's a line of people waiting for their ice cream. He can remember faces pretty well and so some of them seem familiar.
He briefly wonders if this one father with the shy boy will show up again, too, when the sound of a laugh reaches his ears from the middle of the crowd waiting. Instinctively, Tom looks up from scooping cookie ice cream into a cup for a middle-aged woman and his heart stops for a beat when he realizes this beautiful sound is actually coming from the father with the movie star smile. Tom can't stop himself from thinking how gorgeous he is, especially with a laugh like this.
He serves the next customers in line only half-heartedly but still as friendly as ever and can't wait for him to reach the truck.
“Hey again!” Tom greets them as soon as they're the first in the line.
The boy is back at sitting on his father's hip and turns around to whisper something into his ear which makes the father chuckle. His nose crunches up adorably as he does so and Tom’s belly makes a leap.
“That's right, baby bird, he remembers us,” the father says towards his son, then turns towards Tom with a lopsided smirk. “We must have made a lasting impression on him. He surely can't remember every customer he has.”
And that is right. He can remember a fair amount of customers but certainly not all of them. But if they are as cute as the one in front of him, how could he not remember?
“The same as usual?” The father asks and his kid nods enthusiastically.
Tom desperately tries to remember what it was but he might remember them but not their order from yesterday.
“Vanilla and strawberry for the baby bird.” Oh right, always the baby bird. Tom wonders what that nickname is all about. “And for me… chocolate and banana.”
“Both in a cone, right?” Tom asks, suddenly remembering that bit about their order from yesterday.
Movie star smile and baby bird nod at once and it might be one of the cutest things he's ever seen.
“Coming up!” Tom says.
“Six dollars, right?” The father asks and Tom nods, while preparing their cones.
“Can I give him the money again?” The boy asks and Tom realizes it's actually the first time he hears him speaking.
“Of course, you can!” The father says. This time he puts his son down, then takes three 2-dollar-notes out of his wallet, hands them to his son and then lifts him up by his waist so that he can reach the countertop.
Tom takes the money with a smile. “Thank you very much!”
The father sets his son back down. Then takes their ice cream cones.
“Have a nice day!” Tom says.
The father says something too but he doesn't catch it before he has to serve the next customer. Probably it wasn't anything important anyway.
Day 3
“Ice cream?” Pete asks as the jingle of the cream truck reaches his ears.
Bradley nods frantically.
“When have you become as obsessed with ice cream as my son?” Carole chuckles.
“He thinks Mr. Iceman is nice,” Bradley explains proudly.
“Is that so, Pete Mitchell?” Carole smirks and Pete feels his face heating up.
“Let's go, Bradley. If we're quick we might not have to wait in line for so long!”
–
“Familiar faces! What can I get you today?” Tom greets his new favorite customers. “Vanilla and strawberry in a cone for you, little man?”
The boy nods, followed by a shy “yes”. For once, he's standing next to his father rather than sitting on his hip.
“Alright, and for you? I haven't made out a pattern yet.”
“Chocolate is my favorite so it's usually that plus something. What can you recommend?”
“I'll be staying here for the rest of the week so you could still eat yourself through quite a few flavors…” he starts.
“Who says I'll come back here for the rest of the week?” The father shoots at him with a cocky smirk.
“Your little companion would surely be sad if he didn't get his daily dose of ice cream.” And I would be, too , he adds in his thoughts.
“You’ve got me,” he smiles back. “And it wouldn't just be him to be sad, actually,” he adds under his breath and ruffles through his son's hair.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah,” he breathes and their eyes lock for a moment. Then he turns into a chuckle. “I mean your ice cream is to die for. Everyone who doesn't come here everyday is an idiot.”
This is flirting, isn't it? And Tom desperately wants to keep doing it. But he notices how impatient the boy at his crush’s hand is becoming and there's a whole lot of people still waiting to get their ice cream and the man he's flirting with is probably married and this is highly inappropriate anyway.
With an almost-sigh Tom turns back to the original question. “If chocolate is your favorite, why don't make it double? Dark chocolate and milk chocolate?”
“Sounds perfect,” he beams at him. “Seems like you know my taste.”
Tom shrugs it off because he knows he wouldn't stop talking, wouldn't stop flirting. Because he wants to. Because this guy lets him. But he's at work and there are people waiting in line.
Day 4
“I'm coming with you today,” Carole announces in a reply to Bradley asking if they can get ice cream again and Pete agreeing to it without any hesitation.
“No, you're not!” Pete replies with more harshness than he had actually intended.
Carole just raises her eyebrows and frowns at him.
“Sorry, I mean… if we all go together, he'll think we're a family,” Pete explains quickly.
“But we are a family, Pete!”
“He'll think you're my wife !”
“But I want to take a look at…,” she starts in normal volume, then turns into a whisper, “... your sexy Mr. Iceman.”
She winks at him and Pete feels himself blushing. Why again did he tell her that he thinks the blond ice cream truck owner with piercing blue eyes is hot and cute at the same time? Oh, yes, right, she's his best friend. Pete shakes his head more to himself, than to Carole.
“I’ll just miss this turn,” Pete replies.
“And he won't think that I'm your wife when I show up alone with Bradley? He knows him by now,” Carole asks and Pete knows she has a point but he just can't stand the idea of them going together. He can't flirt with Carole at his heels. It would be nothing but weird.
“Just, just go alone with Bradley.” Pete knows he sounds exasperated but he can't change it.
“Are you afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your crush?” Carole laughs. “I'd never do that. Honestly.”
“No… it's just… damn, either let me go with Bradley or the two of you go alone… but we aren't going together.” Pete rubs his neck.
“Can we go now?” Bradley chimes in impatiently and Pete is glad about the distraction.
“Of course, darling.” Carole soothes him immediately and a minute later they are already on their way to the ice cream truck.
–
Tom doesn't want to admit it but his heart has already been fluttering all day long just thinking about meeting his two favorite customers again today. He doesn't know if they'll be there today of course but nevertheless he's almost sure they'll be there. With every new customer he hopes to spot them in the line but the longer he has to wait the more his heart drops.
It hits rock bottom when he spots baby bird but he's not accompanied by movie star smile. Instead, the little boy is holding the hand of a blonde woman in a flowery summer dress and a bright smile. Baby bird's mom and movie star smile's wife is stunningly beautiful. Even Tom can see that and he's gay.
He flirted too much yesterday. That's it. That's for sure and now movie star smile doesn't want to meet him again and so it's his wife now who gets their boy his ice cream.
He's such an idiot. Of course movie star smile isn't single. Why should a man as gorgeous and as nice as him be single? And gay? He's just not that lucky.
There's a loud harrumph and an “Excuse me?” reaching his ears and Tom's thoughts snap back to reality.
“I’m sorry, sir, what can I get you?” Tom asks as friendly as he can. The elderly man who's first in line looks slightly annoyed and Tom can't even blame him.
Tom listens to what his customer says and works on the order automatically. Everything feels mechanical now. He knows exactly what he's doing but there's no passion behind anything he does. It's just work.
A few customers later it's baby bird's and his mom’s turn.
“Hi, what can I get you?” Tom asks with a smile that he hopes doesn't look too fake.
The mom gives Tom a smile, then leans down towards her boy. “Which flavor do you want today? Only one scoop, remember?”
“Strawberry,” the boy quietly pipes up to her and she repeats it for Tom.
He nods. “And for you?”
“Oh, uh, for me too. But for me, in a cup please,” she says and adds as Tom reaches for a cone.
“Alright, three dollars please.”
“Mommy, you have to give me the money now so I can give it to Mr. Iceman,” the boy instructs and although Tom feels downhearted, it makes him smile.
“Really?” She chuckles in disbelief and the boy nods.
“And you have to lift me up,” the boy goes on while his mom looks like she still can't believe that he's serious.
“It’s become our little tradition, right?” Tom says towards the boy and as an explanation for his mom while he's preparing their order.
She still looks surprised but pulls her wallet out of her purse and follows her son's instructions.
Day 5
“Just ask him out, Pete!” Carole suggests in good humor but Pete can hear her impatience too well in her voice.
“I don't even know if he's gay,” Pete complains because it's true. He doesn't know and he doesn't want to make him feel uncomfortable by asking him out.
“You didn't see the look on his face when he saw me instead of you yesterday,” Carole tries to build him up. “And he's cute and even Bradley is opening up to him,” she adds. “And you know that doesn't happen often. Trust me. It's a good sign.”
Pete nods slowly. Yes, he's cute and yes, Bradley is opening up to him but hell, he can't just ask him out.
“I don't even know his name!” Pete complains again.
“Then find it out!” Carole laughs. “Go ahead! Grab Bradley and go!”
–
Tom knows it's stupid. He shouldn't be disappointed. He shouldn't be sad. And he shouldn't have hoped otherwise. But it's still pulling him down that movie star smile has a wife. A beautiful and perfectly nice wife.
“Hey you two, you must be big fans of my ice cream. Vanilla and strawberry as usual for your son? Or just strawberry?” Tom asks, decidedly casual. Because that's how it's supposed to be. This beautiful man in front of him is just a customer, nothing else, and he deserves to be treated nicely.
Baby bird laughs out loud and it feels like he's laughing at Tom. Didn't he remember correctly? No, it was vanilla and strawberry! This is what he wanted everyday. He's completely sure. So why is he laughing? What did he say wrong? Tom feels heat creeping up his cheeks.
“Bradley, we don't laugh at people when they make a mistake, okay?” The father explains softly and the boy- Bradley stops laughing and nods, then hides his face in the crook of his father's neck who rubs his back supportively. “But we can apologize and then hope that the other person accepts it and still likes us,” he continues explaining and the words are ringing in Tom's ears. Still likes us . It could mean nothing, it most probably means nothing, is just a general phrase. His belly swoops nonetheless.
“I'm sorry for him laughing at you,” the father says and shoots him another of his gorgeous smiles. “Bradley apparently thought it very funny that you thought that I'm his dad because I'm not. I'm his uncle. Actually, strictly speaking, I'm not even that but he calls me uncle so… but I am his godfather. So kind of a father…? Anyway, I'm sorry, I don't even know why I'm telling you all this.”
Uncle.
He's Bradley's uncle.
That is the best news he's gotten in a long, a very long time and he desperately tries not to break out into the biggest smile.
Yes, technically it doesn't mean that movie star smile doesn't have a wife at home but at least it's not baby bird’s - Bradley’s - mom. Now at least the tiny chance is back that he might be interested.
“I'm sorry for assuming that you are his dad.”
“Don't worry. It's not the first time that has happened.”
“Doesn't surprise me,” Tom admits. “You seem very close.”
Bradley's uncle nods, suddenly serious but ruffling through the boy's hair. “We are.” There's a notion of something else in his voice too but Tom can't quite put his finger on what it is and before he can think about it more it's already gone again because Bradley's face crunches up and his uncle starts chuckling at his failing attempt to get away.
Tom chuckles too at the cute sight in front of him but then in the corner of his eye he catches a person behind them staring at him with an annoyed look on his face and he's suddenly reminded that he's working and that he shouldn't chat with his customers for too long at a time.
“I don't want to be impolite and shoo you away but what can I get you?” Tom asks with a nod towards the line behind his favorite customers.
“Oh, yes, of course,” movie star smile replies. “Bradley? Vanilla and strawberry?”
Bradley nods.
“Alright, the usual for him, and for me whatever you think I should try.” He shoots Tom a smile and winks at him which makes his insides feel all fluttery and hot.
“Uh, yeah, sure.” Tom nods. Being unable to form a coherent sentence, let alone make a proper suggestion, he instead starts working on Bradley’s order.
“Here you go,” he says a few seconds later as holds out the cone and watches movie star smile lift up Bradley who grabs it instantly.
“Thank you,” movie star smile replies in place of the boy. “So what would you like me to taste?” He adds, his smirk sending another spark of desire through Tom’s body.
Tom swallows, trying to get rid of this fuzzy feeling inside, at least for a moment. “Chocolate of course… and, what about strawberry? If your nephew keeps coming back to it every day, it must be good, right?”
Tom can’t help thinking that it’s a lame idea but movie star smile agrees without a second to spare. The rest of their interaction feels like it goes by in a blur and before Tom completely realizes it the next customer is already demanding his attention.
Day 6
“Bradley, shh, do you hear that?”
“Ice cream?” Bradley pipes.
Pete nods overly excitedly, but he doesn’t care. It’s just Bradley. He doesn’t yet understand why he’s so excited to get ice cream.
“Pete Mitchell, are you really using my son as an excuse to see your cute ice cream truck owner again?” Carole asks a few minutes later, as he and Bradley are already on their way outside.
“Yes, I am,” Pete replies confidently, sticking his tongue out at her. “Yesterday you were practically throwing Bradley at me to get going and besides, he’s not my cute ice cream truck owner .”
“Because you failed to ask him out yesterday!” Carole smirks.
And now, Pete can't even blame her because she's damn right. He sighs and nods.
Bradley tugs at Carole's hand, demanding her attention. “Mommy, we need to go now or we miss Mr. Iceman.”
Carole shuffles through Bradley's hair. “Okay, okay. Off you go!” She locks eyes with Pete for a second and winks at him.
Pete shakes his head and feels his cheeks heating up but ignores it and instead takes Bradley's hand.
–
“Hey, you two, still not sick of my ice cream, are you?” Tom greets Bradley and his uncle as soon as they are first in line.
“Never,” Bradley’s uncle says and smiles at him in a way that reminds Tom why he calls him movie star smile and at the same time lets him forget everything else around him for a second. His smile, his sparkling eyes, his slightly crooked nose crunching up cutely…
What ultimately pulls him back to reality is Bradley talking.
“Uncle Mav, can I tell him what I want today?” the boy asks and by the look on his uncle's face it surprises him as much as it surprises Tom.
“Of course, baby bird,” he beams proudly, obviously trying but failing at hiding his astonishment while lifting Bradley up on his hip. “Go ahead.”
“Vanilla and strawberry,” Bradley says in the general direction of Tom, then his uncle whispers something into his ear and he adds, “Please.”
Tom nods. “And what can I get your Uncle Mav?” He asks, addressing the uncle in question instead of Bradley, wondering if that is his real name or if it's a nickname.
“Chocolate and strawberry,” Bradley replies nevertheless and Tom shares another surprised smile with Bradley’s uncle. “Please.”
“That okay for you?” Tom asks, just to be sure.
“You've heard him,” he chuckles in response and nods.
Moments later, ice cream and money are exchanged and when Bradley and his uncle wave goodbye, all Tom can do is chew on the inside of his cheek, regretting that he didn't get any closer to finding out more about that man, let alone asking him out.
Day 7
Tom drives up to the spot he's occupied for the last week, knowing fully well that this will be the last day in this neighborhood. Well, maybe not forever but for quite some time. He can't just stay here forever.
It will also be the last time he'll see Bradley and his uncle. Unless he does something about it. Ask for his name. His number. Anything.
And why hasn't he thought about that before? As soon as he's done setting up his truck he scribbles down his own phone number and places the little snippet of paper next to the register, ready to give it to him when he shows up.
Time drags by slowly today. In Tom's mind when he shows up, slowly turns into if he shows up and by the time, Tom is supposed to close down the truck for the day, he's almost lost all hope that he'll ever see his crush again.
He tries to keep smiling while he serves the last few customers but then they are gone and still there's not a hint of the person he's waiting for. A deep sigh escapes him. He's missed his shot. That's it. Better get this man out of his head as soon as possible, he thinks as he slowly starts to fix the truck up for the day.
–
“Hey!” Pete shouts across the street as he's almost jogging towards the ice cream truck which is already closed.
“Hey, wait!” He adds, as he realizes that the man he's shouting at probably hasn't heard him and is getting into the driver's seat. Luckily, he now stops in his movement and turns around with a confused look on his face before it turns into a wide smile.
“Hey,” Pete says for the third time in one minute and just slightly out of breath when he reaches him. “I'm sorry, I- Bradley is at his best friend's birthday party today and Carole’s car needed some maintenance and then I had to go to - Oh, Carole is Bradley’s mom, of course. You’ve met her, right? - to the repair shop for engine oil but that took me longer than I thought it would and-”
Pete's brain freezes and then melts within mere milliseconds when his lips crush against the lips of the cute ice cream truck owner and he still doesn't even know his name. He needs to change that but it has to wait for a bit longer now because right now, all he wants is to kiss him back.
And so he does. He settles into the kiss, wraps his arms around the other man’s waist and doesn't even hesitate to open his mouth to let him in. Pete feels him smile into the kiss as he's dipping in and he tastes sweet, like ice cream although Pete guesses that's just his imagination playing tricks on him.
“I'm Pete, by the way,” he smiles as they part, both a bit breathless and in need of fresh air.
“Tom,” he grins back at him.
“Nice to meet you, Tom,” Pete smirks and grabs him by the collar to pull him down for another kiss.