Larry Stylinson Oneshots

I hear you

Harry's deaf, and the lady behind the counter isn't helping him whatsoever, but luckily the cute barista understand him

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It's nearing closing times in the small coffee shop round the corner. You'd think that the place would be empty at 4pm on a January afternoon, but apparently not. Louis had quite literally been working his arse off since 9am and there's still another hour till closing time. He can't even count the endless amount of times he's wiped the machines down, only for another person to ask for a latte. But he can't complain. After all, this is what's paying the rent and electricity bills.

So Louis is not surprised to hear the bell chime, signalling that yet another customer had entered the shop. He doesn't look up from where he's busy making a kids hot chocolate. 'Extra marshmallows' he huffs, adding a handful into the cup before placing it out for a waiter to bring to the table. 4:07pm. He grumbles, wets a cloth before ringing it out as he gets back to wiping down the counters and machines.

Though in the midst of cleaning, his brows furrow as he lifts his head.

"Can you just tell me what you want. Speak up I can't hear you."

That's Linda, the middle aged woman who somehow makes a living feeding the spoilt brats she calls kids off of the part-time coffee shop job. Louis likes to refer to her as Karen though, suits her persona quite dearly.

"Helloooo?"

Louis has had enough of listening to the woman. He leans his head round the door of the kitchen to get a view of the situation. Why the heck is she screaming? It's not even too loud in here.

He's met with a tall curly-haired brunette who's standing on the opposite side of the counter, fumbling with his ring-clad fingers as he stares the woman down. Louis furrows his brows, by now he's dropped the cloth back into the sink and dusted his hands off on his green apron. He leans against the door frame, just watching for a few seconds.

The stranger is pointing to the large menu over the woman's head. "I don't know which one you're pointing at." Linda is getting far too snappy, but who can blame her? There's already a que forming behind the stranger. Linda pinches her nose as she begins to get impatient. "Sir can you just step aside you're holding everyone up for god sake."
Louis gulps. She said that? Eek-

But for some reason the boy doesn't seem phased at all. Completely oblivious to quite the scene he's caused. Yet some part of Louis feels suddenly guilty. It takes a moment of thought and then realisation. Louis quickly takes matters into his own hands, barging past 'Karen'. She goes to retaliate, but stops herself with a huff.

'Hello. How can I help you?'

Louis' sign language memory is hazy. He hasn't used it in quite a while, a few months actually.

'Hi. I'm sorry I kept everyone waiting.'

Louis doesn't miss the slight frown that's formed on the other's features.

'No worries. She was being very impatient.'

The stranger gives a sharp nod and... Oh was that a smile? Louis is pretty sure it was.

'What can I get you?'

'Can I just have a minute to look at the menu again?'

Louis nods with a smile, turns to Linda. "Open up the other cash register and start taking more customers." Linda rolls her eyes with another huff, hand resting on her hip as she calls the two old ladies behind over to a new till. Louis hears a small knock on the countertop.