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Verso stepped through the front door of the Le Petit Tasse and was immediately met with the aroma of coffee and baked goods. He basked in the warmth of the atmosphere, trying to release the tension he’d been holding since his most recent argument with his father. Taking a deep breath, he approached the front counter.
There he saw a pair of workers chatting idly, neither having noticed his presence yet.
Verso cleared his throat before speaking a polite “Excuse me.”
The man whose back was facing him turned around and Verso was face to face with the most handsome man he’d ever seen.
“Oh hello, welcome! How can I help you?” the barista said with a warm smile. Verso eyed his nametag before replying.
“Hi…Gustave. First time here, what would you recommend?”
“Ah that’s an excellent question. What type of coffee do you normally like?”
Verso found himself getting lost in those big brown eyes. In that moment, he forgot every cup of coffee he’d ever had before. He had to think fast.
“How about you surprise me?” he said with a grin. Smooth.
Gustave chuckled before getting started on his mystery drink. Verso watched him work with ease. He noted the prosthetic arm, but didn’t allow his eyes to linger there lest he be rude. A beep from his phone brought his eyes away from the barista.
Text from Renoir
His expression immediately soured as he locked his phone, not bothering to read the text. He was in no mood to engage with the very reason he wandered into this cafe in the first place. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a drink sliding across the counter towards him.
“Here you go!” Gustave said brightly.
Verso grabbed the drink before taking a small sip. His bitterness burned away at the taste of the heavenly brew, he felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips.
“Glad to see you like it, stranger,”
“Verso,” he supplied.
“Glad to see you like it, Verso,” Gustave said, his tongue curling around the name. Verso wished he could hear him say his name again and again.
“You seemed a bit down when you walked in. But I’m glad that I could help,” he continued.
“Thank you, truly,” Verso said as he pulled out his wallet to pay for the drink. Gustave’s eyes went wide as he saw the amount he was handed.
“My apologies but I don’t think we have enough in the register to give you change for this.”
“Oh, well then I suppose you should just keep in then,” Verso said with a grin as he turned and headed towards the exit.
“See you around, Gustave.”
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After that day, Verso made a point of visiting the cafe as much as he could. He wasn’t always there fresh from an argument with his father, but it had happened enough that Gustave had begun to catch on. Eventually he found himself opening up to the barista about his family. He spoke of how his mother and father were renowned painters. The weight he and his sisters felt under their expectations. While Clea seemed most comfortable bearing that weight, it took a toll on himself and he’d only recently gathered the courage to pursue his love of music instead (much to his father’s displeasure).
Gustave began to open up in kind. Verso learned that he was a graduate student studying engineering at a local university. He’d lost his arm shielding his younger sister during a car accident when they were teenagers. While he was originally devastated at the loss of his limb, his first prosthesis marked the beginning of his love for engineering. Now he dreamed of obtaining his degree and designing even more advanced prosthetics for people from all walks of life. Verso admired how Gustave was able to find the light in the face of such a loss.
After a month of their little chats, Verso could no longer ignore the spark in his chest every time he saw his favorite barista. He steeled himself before walking into the cafe and approaching the counter, ready to finally share how he felt with the other man.
“Your boyfriend isn’t here today,” Sciel said with a teasing smile on her lips.
“You make a lot of assumptions, don’t you?” Verso countered, trying to keep his disappointment masked.
Sciel crossed her arms and gave him a look.
“It’s not an assumption, more an observation. You have quite the habit of showing up when Gustave is on shift.”
Verso grit his teeth as he felt his cheeks growing warm. Sciel took mercy on him.
“Well he’s not working today, though he usually likes to come here to study on his days off. Maybe you buy yourself something sweet and stick around for a bit? I bet he’d appreciate it if you saved him his favorite place to sit.” She smirked at seeing the way Verso’s eyes lit up at the possibility of still seeing Gustave.
“...and this favorite seat would be?” Verso asked, his eyes darting around as he refused to give her the satisfaction of making eye contact. She pointed to a particularly comfortable looking armchair in the corner of the cafe. Verso quickly put his bag down to claim it before returning to the counter and placing his order. He was sure to tip Sciel generously for the support. She smiled at the cash but politely turned it down.
“I didn’t help you just because I wanted a big tip. Gustave’s my friend and I want him to be happy. And for whatever reason you’re the one who makes him smile the widest.”
Verso felt himself flush at the observation. He was always used to seeing Gustave smiling on the job, it was just part of his nature. But there was a part of him that thought there was something more to the smiles he gave the musician whenever he stopped by. Hearing his hopes be validated made him feel like he actually had a chance with the other man. With a grin, he tucked the money into Sciel’s pocket before whispering “How about you use this to take that raven haired girl you’re always staring at out on a date?”
Sciel was at a loss for words.
“You’re not the only one who notices things,” he said as he took his drink and walked over to the armchair before taking a seat. He immediately understood why this was Gustave’s favorite spot. He sipped on his coffee as he waited, sinking down into the soft cushions. It wasn’t long before he succumbed to sleep.
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Verso was woken up by a nudge to his shoulder. His eyes shot open as he quickly scanned his surroundings. The cafe had gotten quite busy from the looks of it, patrons filling every seat in the lounging area. His gaze snapped back to the one who woke him up.
“I thought that was you,” Gustave said warmly, a bright smile on his face and a fresh coffee in his hand.
“Y-you’re wearing glasses,” Verso said, still half asleep.
Gustave blushed as he scratched the back of his head.
“Yeah they’re reading glasses. I only really wear them to study.”
Verso didn’t think this man could get any more adorable.
“I must’ve dosed off for a bit there,” Verso said as he tried to wipe the sleep from his face. His father would have scolded him for doing something as undignified as falling asleep in public.
Gustave let out a chuckle.
“I don’t blame you, that’s my favorite seat for a reason.”
“You have very good taste, mon ami.”
A beat passed before Verso continued.
“You should sit here, I can pull up a chair.”
Gustave took a look around the cafe before replying.
“I don’t think there’s any open chairs, unfortunately.”
“Oh well you should still take it,” Verso insisted as he moved to rise from his seat. He was stopped by a warm hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it. There’s enough room for us to share, no?”
That’s how Verso found himself sharing a seat with Gustave. While the armchair wasn’t necessarily designed for two adult men, they managed to make it work. Shoulder to shoulder, with their legs resting against each other with an easy familiarity that made it seem like this was something they did regularly. Squeezed together but not at all unpleasantly, Verso basked in the warmth he shared with the other man. He was shaken out of his thoughts by Gustave’s voice beside him.
“So what were you doing here before you fell asleep?
The “Waiting for you” got caught in his throat as he scrambled for a believable lie.
“Ah you know, just avoiding my family, the usual.”
Gustave’s face softened as he put his hand over Verso’s.
“Another argument? I’m sorry to hear that,” Gustave said, the earnestness in his voice making Verso ache. His heart began to race at the feeling of Gustave’s thumb rubbing soothing circles on his hand.
“Thanks, but I think I’m already starting to feel better,” he said with a small smile, his hand turning over to give Gustave a gentle squeeze.
“Anyway, what brings you here?” Verso asked. While he already knew the answer to his question, Gustave didn’t know that.
“Ah, well I like to come here to study from time to time. It’s cozier than the library and the employee discount doesn’t hurt either.”
“I hope I’m not intruding on your study time then.”
“Nonsense,” Gustave said with a laugh. “If anything you could help me, if you’d like to, that is,” he continued.
“Of course I’ll help, though I’m not sure how much my piano skills can help with your engineering class,” Verso said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I’ve always thought the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. And I think you’re the perfect candidate,” Gustave said with a smile. Verso returned it in kind.
“Okay yeah, let’s do it then.”
“Excellent…though I do need my hand back though,” Gustave teased as he nodded down towards Verso’s leg where their hands were still connected. Verso reluctantly released the other man’s hand before trying to subtly wipe the nervous sweat from his own.
“Alright, lay it on me.”
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Verso spent the next few hours absorbing everything Gustave had to say. While most of the concepts went over his head, he loved watching the way Gustave’s face lit up as he explained the complexities of mechanical engineering. His hands gestured excitedly as he expounded on the differences between thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. Verso could tell when he got to a particularly interesting topic because the other man would practically vibrate in his seat, his leg comfortably rocking against Verso’s.
Eventually, it was closing time and the pair found themselves standing outside the cafe. The light of the moon shined above Gustave’s head, framing his face at the perfect angle. For the first time in a long time, Verso felt moved enough to consider painting this moment so he could keep it forever.
“Thank you again for helping me study. I know it’s not the most interesting topic for everyone,” Gustave said with a bashful smile.
Verso shook his head.
“It was my pleasure. And seems only fair given how often you lend me your ear about my family troubles.”
Gustave’s smile faltered for a moment.
“I hope you didn’t torture yourself out of obligation. Listening to family troubles for a few moments is quite different from hours of lecturing about engineering.”
Gustave’s concern made his heart swell. Verso stepped closer into the other man’s space. He gently took his hand in his as he spoke.
“I would listen to you describing paint dry if it meant more time for us to spend together.”
Gustave’s cheeks flushed at the admission. He was at a loss for words, so he settled for squeezed Verso’s hand affectionately. He stepped closer into Verso’s space, enjoying the heat of their proximity.
“How about I walk you home?” Verso asked as he brought Gustave’s hand up for a kiss.
His cheeks flushed with color, Gustave nodded before guiding the other man down the street towards his apartment. The pair walked in a comfortable silence, hands never breaking apart as they occasionally bumped shoulders. Eventually they found themselves outside Gustave’s front door. Neither of them moved.
“Well, this is me,” Gustave said with a shy smile. “Do you want to come inside?” he continued.
“I’d love to, but first…” Verso trailed off as he pressed the other man into the door. Being this close, he could see Gustave's glasses begin to fog as their breath intermingled.
“Sorry,” Gustave said with a small laugh as he took off his glasses. He felt a pair of hands grab them as Verso cleaned the lenses before placing them back on his face.
“Please keep them on.”
“O-okay.”
“I’d really like to kiss you now,” Verso said, his eyes glancing down at his lips before returning to match his gaze.
Gustave licked his lips in anticipation.
“Please do-” his sentence was interrupted as Verso’s lips were on his. What had meant to be a chaste peck quickly transformed into something more hungry. Verso cradled his head as he pressed him into the door, their bodies slotting perfectly together. Gustave’s hands came around from behind to grasp his shoulders as he melted into the kiss. Verso drank up every moan Gustave let out as he savored the sweet taste of coffee still on his tongue.
Eventually the pair broke apart, panting as they rested their foreheads against each other.
“Wow,” Gustave said.
“Wow, indeed,” Verso replied.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Gustave asked, his smile beaming with affection.
Verso leaned back in for another sweet kiss.
“Of course, mon chéri.”