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If there was one single saving grace for the worst city on their continent, it was probably the fact that nearly all businesses were open absurdly late. Well, not all because that was a stretch, but just places like fast food joints, gas stations, the library which was a little odd, and most importantly coffee shops. Now Conner was by no means a caffeine addict. In fact, he wasn't really fond of it at all. In high school he stayed away from it, as a kid and as an adult he never really cared for soda, and when it came down to coffee or tea it really didn't matter because he didn't really care for either. However there was a lesson he learned all the way back in his freshman year of college. The lesson being that caffeine saves lives, which was only slightly ironic given his major. So coffee shops and cafés were everything. Primarily because having a place to sit down and be able to work quietly on his assignments, study, and get free wifi with a warm, caffeinated drink was just too good to pass up.
Conner had checked out the various cafés in Gotham. He'd had nearly four years to do so and after the one he frequented his freshman year got held up, he decided to make a habit of visiting a variety of them. He knew most of the coffee shops near his campus. If not all of them. Yet there was one that he found at the beginning of his senior year that he hadn't been able to move on from. It had absolutely nothing to do with the coffee quality and everything to do with who was making it.
The Insomniac was a little on the nose with their name but Conner didn't mind, if anything it was humorous. It was near the campus which resulted in many students frequenting it, but it was hard to find being tucked away on a dark Gotham street. It kept itself lit at night with a classic neon sign in blues and purples. Like a beacon for the exhausted student body. Moths to a flame. It was open nearly all day every day however there was a two hour gap between the closing shift and opening shift. He had figured it was for cleanup and prep. Inside the interior was dark, lit with warm light from lamps and hanging fixtures. Couches, loveseats, tables and chairs were scattered around. Plush, but worn down just enough to be comfortable. The scent of the shop was just as much sweet as it was coffee. The baristas that worked at The Insomniac were calm and quiet, opting to not scream your name throughout the building. It was the main reason why Conner always picked it to study.
He could safely work there with no interruptions.
However…
Conner Kent had begun going to The Insomniac for… ulterior motives.
There was this barista. He was shorter than Conner, but much more lean. Conner could have easily gotten a sports scholarship had he wanted to go down that path, this guy looked like he might have done track or golf or something. Although the barista was still muscled. Conner had noticed one day after the man tripped and managed to catch everything he'd been carrying. The guy was no football star, however he was still fit.
He had raven black hair, much like Conner himself though he had never really found his hair color as interesting as the barista's was. It was loose, longer than his own shorter hair. Sometimes the barista would have it up in a small bun, a few strands missed would hang right past his ears and frame his face so nicely. That was another thing, Conner had yet to see someone with a complexion that clear. It was like the guy had never had acne! His eyes were blue. Icy and bright. Conner desperately wanted to stare at them longer than a spared glance, however he found that the idea of meeting the barista's gaze and being caught staring was a much worse fate.
The barista's voice was smooth. Confident. Maybe even a little cocky? He seemed like the kind of guy who was good at Mario Kart and owned it.
(Conner only knew that because he had heard the man boasting to someone about how good he was at it.)
So there was this barista. His name was Tim. Conner knew that not because he was stalking the guy, but because it was on his name tag. He was handsome and cool and he really wanted to talk to the guy more. No, he didn't have a crush, he just wanted to learn more about Tim and maybe invite him out to do something fun. That was all. Completely and utterly normal!
Maybe he had a tiny crush on the cute barista…
But that was fine! It wasn't like Conner had been going to the coffee shop every day since halfway through the first semester just to see the guy. And even if he was what was wrong with that! He was just very diligently studying for his second semester finals. Obviously.
Conner stepped up to the counter as the person in front of him moved away. Tim came into view and gave him a smile.
“Hey, good to see you, the usual?” Tim said smoothly, already typing the order in.
Conner nodded, “Yep, good to see you too.”
Mentally he cringed at how stiff he sounded. He was trying to talk to the guy not sound like a robot! Still, Tim shot him another smile and gave a single nod.
“Got it, Steph will get it for you.” The cute barista said easily.
Steph was Tim's coworker. They shared nearly every shift together and the bubbly blonde always gave Conner a knowing look that he chose to ignore. He fought the disappointment that Tim wasn't the one to get him his drink and moved out of the short line.
As always, Steph grinned.
Conner took his drink and ignored her.
He sat down at a table end and used a napkin as a coaster. A glance at the register showed that Tim was busy today and that Steph wasn't busy enough if her wagging eyebrows weren't evidence enough.
Resigning himself to actually having to do work, he got his laptop out and worked on taking notes. He was nearing the end of his schooling and he felt the pressure of it. Soon he'd be done and then…
A figure sat down across from him.
Conner desperately fought the fight or flight response as Tim stared back at him.
“You don't mind company do you? Steph said you seemed stressed and you always seem to be relaxed but today I guess not and okay I'm rambling but yeah, hi?” Tim said and a warm tint painted his cheeks.
Conner tried not to stare but was undoubtedly failing. He could see Steph in the corner of his eye giving him thumbs up. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
He cleared his throat, “Uh, yeah. Finals are coming up.”
Tim made a noise of understanding, “I totally forgot it's finals season.”
Conner raised an eyebrow curiously, “Are you not in school too?”
His heart stuttered as Tim smiled. He was cute and too bright.
“Nah, I graduated… uh two years ago? I think?”
Conner paused then furrowed his brow, “You don't look that old, no offense.”
Tim laughed and it was music to his ears, “I was a bit of a prodigy and graduated early. I'm only twenty-two.”
“Twenty-three.” Conner added feeling like it was only fair to share, “What was your major if you don't mind me asking?”
“Business degree,” Tim stated, “What about you? I always see you working on stuff when you're here.”
Conner flushed in embarrassment, “Nursing.”
At this Tim tilted his head, “Really? I figured you would have had a football scholarship or something.”
“Quit my senior year of high school to focus on preparing for college. Besides, what's a business degree doing in a coffee shop?” Conner said with a snort.
Tim grinned, “Something something life experience.”
“What does that mean?” Conner started before being cut off.
“Oh hey my break time is up, see you.” Tim said with a smile and a wave.
Conner huffed a disbelieving laugh as Tim quickly fled and went back to work. He forced himself to focus back in on his own work but found that his mind was wandering. He was smiling to himself. It was hard to be stressed out about finals when he'd gotten to talk to Tim the cute barista. He huffed a sigh at his own inability to ask the younger out on a date.
His hand held a pen and he doodled on the edge of his napkin, the one he had used as a coaster. It was silly and a little juvenile, but he found himself drawing little hearts and writing the word ‘cute’.
A glance at the clock said it was time to head back home so he could get some dinner and get to bed at a half decent time. Conner sighed and closed up his laptop, tucking it and a notebook back in his bag. He sighed as he left The Insomniac. Maybe he'd feel more confident talking to Tim another time. If he got the chance again. There was always tomorrow.
Tomorrow seemed to be lucky once it rolled around.
Conner had made his way to The Insomniac per usual and this time it was Steph that took his order. Per usual, she winked and sent him on his way. Tim was handling the drinks today and he gave Conner a warm smile once he saw him. He expected a ‘hey’ or some form of greeting but Tim just smiled at him. His face was tinted pink and he almost avoided Conner's gaze. ‘Tomorrow’ was not his lucky day apparently.
Tim passed him his drink and for a second Conner thought their hands lingered. Then he blinked and reminded himself that his crush on the barista was just muddling his perception.
He took his usual seat when studying and got out his laptop and books. Pen, pencil, highlighter, the works. Unthinking, he reached for his drink and paused as the excess of ink on his napkin turned coaster caught his eye.
Little hearts and ‘you're cute too’ written in marker ink.
His breath caught in his throat as he processed what he was looking at. A napkin. With hearts and a compliment. A reciprocated compliment. He hadn't called anyone cute though? The only time he had ever- oh. The napkin from the day prior. He had completely forgotten it on the table for anyone to find! His face flushed and he gave the room a cursory glance. As always his eyes drifted to Tim who was wiping down the countertop. His head was bowed down and he was scrubbing very intently. His hair hung over his eyes in a way that had Conner itching to brush it back behind his ears. Tim's face was pink.
Conner glanced at the napkin and held it. He fidgeted with it for a moment before turning it over. On the back was a phone number and a name. He felt heat rise to his face as Tim's name and number looked back at him.
He smiled, giddy.