Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eddie isn’t known for being a softy, especially with his job, anyone that he has taken on as an apprentice has gone through the daunting task of drawing 150 roses in different styles. They have also gone through all the borderline hazing from always being the last one out for cleaning and handling all of the paperwork for the shop; however, when it came to his newest apprentice he has gained a little bit of a soft spot. So, naturally, when the younger artist called him at 10am running late for his appointment begging him to go next door and get him his mile long coffee order, he agreed.

Munson had opened up shop next to The Upside-down Coffee House about a year ago and yet he has still yet to go in. It’s not that he had anything against the shop, he just never had been a big coffee drinker. The whole place had a warm 80’s feel to it; amber lighting, books along the walls people can borrow or buy, soft rock playing through the speakers. The chime over the door rang out as he finally pushed his way into the establishment.

The smells of the shop invaded his space in the best way possible instead of the sterile smells of the tattoo shop, the scents of espresso, cinnamon, and nutmeg made it’s way towards him. It felt like a warm hug from Wayne around Christmas time. The place seemed calm and perfect to the point he almost wondered why he was avoiding it. Eddie pulled out his phone to look over the monstrosity that was the kids order again, when he heard the barista at the register getting a little frustrated.

Eyes glancing up towards the heart of the store, Eddies world seemed to halt on it’s axis. In front of him was the most breath taking man he had ever laid eyes upon. Fluffy chestnut hair pushed back, black apron wrapped tightly around his, smaller than life, waist, and his eyes...oh his eyes, like that of a doe.

“Ms Appleton I assure you your drink is made correctly. Now if you would like for me to make it a 3^rd time we at least need to change something about it to have you like it more.”

Eddie tried to hide his tight lipped smile behind his hand because he knows customers can be super frustrating ,especially the older crowd.

“No no boy you listen to me!” Granny was starting to get a bit irradiated and even without knowing this boys name he already was getting a protective streak in his head wanting to protect him a bit. “I’ve been a customer here for 5 years! You will remake my drink again how I like it, or you will be losing a very important customer!”

The brown eyed boy let out a sigh of frustration and patience, “Okay Ms Appleton, let me grab Joyce and maybe she can make it how you would like it, okay?”

This seemed to appease the old bag as the boy all but ran to the back room.

And if Eddie thought he looked good from the front. Ugh. His back. He could still see that slutty small waist, but also the perkiest ass.

Please if there is a god make this man gay.

The barista came back to the register with a smile and he shifted his attention to the next customer, to Eddie. It was like his brain couldn’t catch up with his feet as Eddie then drops his phone on the ground with a small trip on the floor. After two foolish attempts to pick up his phone he looked back up at the object of his desires. The cutie looked adorable, plush lips, with his eyebrows all furrowed like he was confused.

“...can I get you?”

“I- uh.. I’m sorry what was that?” Eddie’s face heated up from embarrassment. He never lost his composer around, well, anyone.

The smile that broke out the shorter boys face was worth it tho, “I asked what can I get you today...hun.”

The term of endearment seemed to be an after thought, maybe a bit apprehensive.

“Oh uh.. shit one sec,” Eddie went fumbling back on his phone to get Dustin’s order, “sorry in advance this is kind of… a lot? So they want a large flat w? With 4 resteroto? Shots. Um.. 6 pumps of vanilla. 3 packs of honey. 5….fuck what does this stand for?!” Munson felt like he was striking out on this guy. He couldn’t even say his employees order correctly to the hot barista next door and he wasn’t even going to get a chance to see how those lips felt against his and…

All of a sudden small cold finger tips were touching his large warm callused ones. Eddies eyes darted up to his. “Um, can I see?”

The pink that blushed against his face was adorable, almost bringing out the little moles on his left cheek. The tall man let go of his phone willingly to the other. The barista started to bite at his lip until it was turning a little red. Eddie wanted to reach out towards him and pull his lip down to make him stop.

“Jesus Christ this is a long order. This for your um...girlfriend?”

Wait. What?!

Eddie coughed a bit on his spit quick to shoot that down, “No!” The other two baristas on the floor looked over at the scene, for a second, before going back to their drinks. “I...uh...sorry. No. No I don’t have a girlfriend, but I mean that’s not really my...thing, you know? Girlfriends.”

Fuck I’m like a shuddering teenager.

This seemed to please the younger man behind the counter. Having a pretty smile paint his face. “Ah well, your friends drink is...a lot. ha..ha. But, I mean, what can I get you?”

Eddie without even thinking of potentially offending the man, grimaces a little.

That once pretty smile fell a little.

Shit nope nope need to fix this.

“I’m sorry, I’m not really a coffee kinda guy. I like tea though? How about this. I’ll let you make anything you want for me. I can already tell it will be good.”

Okay smooth crushed that.

The small pink blush returned to his face. The guy started writing on his cup and putting it into the system.

“Hmm a surprise me tea I can work with that. But you have to be honest if you hate it! Promise?”

It was like looking at a kid waiting to pinky promise, full of so much joy and hope in this tall man. God even if this drink was sewer water he would drink it with a smile.

“Promise, Bambi.”

The blush made its way down his neck by his chestnut hair. Eddie quickly paid on the machine in front of him and walked down the area to wait for his two drinks. The complicated one was passed off to a girl that looked to be about his age, as well, with a short bob hair cut, with blonde and brown highlights. She seemed to huff and roll her eyes at his new favorite barista, then elbowing him a little too rough for his liking in the ribs.

The man seemed to just laugh it off. He was steeping some tea bags and started to steam some milk in a pitcher. Adding some pumps to the cup as well. Watching him work was almost like an art. He seemed to be good at his job and loved the craft of making the drinks with care. He was about to pour all the liquids into the cup when he looked up at the metal head.

“Oh uh… I didn’t catch your name for your cup. You know our policy and stuff.”

The girl on the other bar next to him seemed to let out a small laugh and then covered it with a cough.

“Oh! My name is Eddie.”

Looking content with his answer, he jotted down his name on the cup, finally putting the drink together and adding a small garnish on the top being lidding it.

Instead of putting the drink in the hand off area he hands it directly over the bar to Eddie.

Munson hummed on the inside with being able to even brush his hand against his again. The same small, cold fingers touched his again and the spark was just as before. All consuming.

“Have a good day, Eddie. And...uh I hope you like it.”

And just like that his Bambi ran to the backroom leaving him waiting in the cafe for his stupid drink for Henderson.

The girl plopped the drink down on the hand off area for him and nodded curtly at him.

On his way out of the cafe Eddie finally raised the cup to his lips letting the warmth drip down and land in the well of his empty stomach.

Fuck that’s good.

He didn’t even know what he was drinking, but he knew one thing.

As soon as he crossed the threshold of his own shop he saw Dustin setting up his tattoo machine and station.

“Oh thank god Eds, I owe you one! Did you get me a str-”

“I think I’m in love.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t the first time Steve had a panic attack in the back-room, and honestly it probably wouldn’t be the last. However, this time it was more anxiety rather than panic. The hottest man he had ever laid his eyes on just came into the store. Long black curls pulled back into a claw clip, arms full of traditional tattoos, tall, lean, and fuck those silver piercings in his face had his eyes almost rolling back with just the thought of them.

And fuck it if Steve didn’t flirt a little, or at least try to. He tried to take extra time making his London fog just to stare at this man...at Eddie, a little longer.

He wondered if Eddie was short for something. Maybe Edward? Edmund?

“Steve what was that spaz attack on the floor out there? ‘our policy and stuff’ Didn’t know you had it in you.” Robin was looking down at Steve on the floor leaning his head against the freezer, the cool tiles beneath his feet and hands was grounding most days. She had that teasing look in her eyes. Steve had only came out to the girl about 4 months ago over the phone when he was having a panic about thinking David Bowie was hot.

Through Robin he found the joys of bisexuality and that he didn’t really have to pick just one gender to crush on, or better, want to fuck.

“God Rob I looked like a fool out there!” Steve’s breathing was starting to come out more even now that he had isolated himself more. Back in High school he was the top of the food chain, so the fact that he was getting this worked up and frozen about this man was wild to him.

“Congratulations on getting your first real gay panic. I knew you had it in you!”

“Not funny Rob… god what will I do if I see him again. God Robin I need to see him again. What if he thinks I’m lame I mean look at him and then look at-”

“No no I’m going to cut you off right there,” Robin was squatting in front of him now letting her bangs fall in her face a bit, not touching Steve, but being in his presence. “Steve you know you’re hot. You strike out with girls at lot trust I know, but you should have seen it from my prospective this guy was crushing just as bad on you.”

Steve looked up at her a little appreciatively, “you sure? Not just saying that shit right to calm me down or whatever?”

Robin popped back up on her feet and saluted, “No way man, gay scouts honor!”

This girl always new how to make him smile a bit. They were both from this small town called Hawkins, Indiana. They didn’t talk much in school, but after working a painful summer of serving ice cream in horrible sailors uniforms together they have been best friends ever since. Eventually he gave in to Robins begging and moved out here about two months ago.

Plus she was at least a little right the guy seemed to be just a flustered around him, now that he was thinking about it. Maybe he really did have a chance. Now, if he would only come back in again.

He looked like the kinda guy that works at Spencer’s in the mall, or maybe plays in a metal band, definitely guitar, those hands were gloriously warm and callused. Long fingers that can probably reach all types of places.

Steve shook the thought out of his head as he got back on his feet to go back into the heat of it all.

Bringing in the street sign from the street had him shivering a little bit, it was turning into late November, all the leaves have abandoned the trees by this point, the wind slapped against Steve’s cheeks with a sting. He already sent home everyone but El who was currently making her own drink to take home.

Coming back into the cafe he started to fill up the mop bucket in the back.

“Steve. You sure you don’t want me to finish anything else?”

The man jumped a little, this kid knew how to sneak up on him, that was for sure.

“Oh! Uh no kid I already did all the money and stuff, I’m just going to take out the trash and mop and I’ll be heading home too. But, you have a good night!”

The lying had starting coming naturally for Steve. Picking up the extra shifts, always making sure he was closing, or if not, making sure to walk around the area until the closer left to sneak back in. If the owner Joyce really paid attention she would have maybe noticed the blanket and pillow hidden in the ceiling tiles, maybe the fact that he had a backpack with about a weeks worth of clothing smashed into a break-room locker.

All in all El left without much fuss, after mopping the line and cafe area, Steve starting going through any of the old food that was expired. A few muffins and a cookie. It actually was policy that one of each item that’s going out needed to go in the display case for the next day, so they didn’t waste as much good product for displays. So after setting them aside of the night it left one blueberry muffin. Steve sighed to himself as he took his meal to the back room.

He popped open a step ladder grabbing his bedding from the ceiling, setting up in the corner of the room. The backroom was strangely more cold than normal. He could always make himself a drink...hot coco or tea, but he already felt like he was stealing enough from the company. Going behind Joyce’s back after taking the chance and hiring him a few months ago. Giving him a store key and making him a manager and here he was betraying her trust.

He grabbed a timer from the floor and set it for 6 hours, to be awake before the opener gets in for the day, laying down on the bitter cold flooring. It was times like this that he really thought about his situation.

He was homeless. Had been since he moved here to Indianapolis. He did have a plan before this all went to shit. Only the second he finally moved out here he called his parents, from Robins house, to check in on them and let them know he made it to town safely. He didn’t have furniture on anything with him only a duffle bag of clothing and 3 books that comforted him. He will never forget this conversation for as long as he lived.

‘Stephen we need to have a conversation. Your mother is not doing well, I think it was very foolish for you to give up your life out here. Now your mother is sick and in the hospital. I think you need to come back home and work for my company. We are going to need help with these bills.’

‘Dad...dad I can’t just up and leave out here...I mean I literally just got here. I think I can start a good life for myself don’t you trust-’

‘This isn’t about trust Stephen! You’re mother is sick!”

‘Wha...what is she sick with?’

There was a long pause on the phone.

‘The doctors do not know yet. But if you are going to disappoint your mother the least you can do is help me, no help her, with these bills.’

And that was that. His mother still had some unknown illness and he was sending almost every penny of his money to his father to help his mother’s bills. And she seemed to be getting worse. His dad would keep him updated in letters saying they have now been transferred to a hospital in NYC for a specialist.

He has kept enough money to at least try to eat one meal a day, or to save up enough to get a hair cut, do laundry near by. Any up keep it would take to make sure no one suspected him to be homeless. Because besides… who would want a burden like him in their life?