Work Text:
“Long black, please”, a deep voice asked, and caught Hob's attention. The sound curled delicately around Hob’s thoughts and he was momentarily distracted, a flat white held out towards his previous customer. The name ‘Frankie’ was scrawled on the side of the cup.
“I’ll be there in a mo love, one sec”, Hob returned his attention to Frankie, one of his regulars, and smiled. “There you go, all set!”
“Cheers Hob,” Frankie glanced to the side, towards the new customer, “best go see to tall, dark and handsome over there,” they leaned closer, “he looks like he could do with the caffeine”. Hob chuckled and swept his hair back.
“Listen, will you stop trying to set me up with anyone and everyone that walks in this place?” He waved them off, and ignored the raised eyebrows and meaningful look. Instead he turned towards the new customer.
As he rounded the coffee machine, Hob realised two things. One, this particular customer didn’t look like he appreciated being called ‘love’, and two, he was stunning. High cheekbones with startling bright blue eyes, Hob was caught off guard, a greeting died on his lips. The scowl directed his way deepened at the delay, and Hob dived toward the coffee machine.
“Ah, long black was it? Coming right up”, Hob followed the motions on autopilot. “Haven’t seen you in here before, you work around here?” he glanced up, but received only a raised eyebrow in response. “Not a chatty one then, gotcha. To be fair even I’m not before my first coffee of the day, but then that is at arse 'o'clock in the morning”. Hob grabs a lid and a sharpie without thinking, and asks “so what’s your name then?”.
The man in front of him didn't respond, his eyes flicked down to the cup and Hob’s hand as it hovered, ready to write. He looks bemused, eyebrows furrowed. Hob’s hands lower. The continued silence from his newest customer isn’t unusual from those looking for a caffeine hit first thing in the morning, but he can’t help wanting to chat to each person that enters his little shop. He enjoys people, even the ones that might not be the most talkative.
“Nevermind, that’ll be £3.10 then please”, he pressed a button on his monitor, and as the customer went to pay, a glint came into Hob’s eye. He picked up the sharpie again, quickly writing on the cup before he passed it over. “Have a great day!” He called, smiling at the swift exit and swirling coat departing in front of him.
Hob realised a third thing after the front door to the shop closed. He was absolutely desperate to get a chance to call this stranger ‘love’ again.
- - - -
“Hey boss”
“...”
“Uh boss, why does it say ‘Tall, dark and handsome’ on your coffee?”