your place or mine?

starbucks

"Earth to Frank"
Frank blinked a few times processing someone talking to him.
"Hey, talkin' you you asshole" he could see a hand waving and then clicking in front of his face. He looked at the owner of the hand and stood up from where he was slouched against the counter. It was Chase, his boss and close friend. And by close he means in a two become one way. If either of them needed some form of release they knew they had each other for that with no feelings involved. It kept them both grounded and putting an 'all fuck, no feelings' rule on their relationship was a godsend when it came to their shifts together. They were great for each other as friends. Chase's dad owned this and many other Starbucks in the area so to be best fuck buddies with the boss had it's perks, he got away with pretty much anything. Except his lateness, that was a big issue and Chase couldn't keep covering Franks ass all the time.

"You good?"
Frank gave him a small nod.
"All good" He replied a little too bluntly and Chase wasn't satisfied with the answer.
"I know when you're not being truthful, you seem to forget that" he folded his arms over his chest looking down at the shorter man. The morning rush was over and they only had a couple of customers sat in the lobby doing their own thing, it was times like this where they could both get away with mingling before they got hit with another rush.

"I'm good really, just trying to figure some shit out you know?" Frank sighed a little.
"Is this about Adam? Frank he ditched you like you were nothing don't even give him a second of your thoughts"
"I wish it was that easy to just forget about him Chase, he was my first proper relationship, you know this"
"I know, but he's an ass for what he did" Chase shrugged a little as he began emptying the mugs from the pot wash.
"Is this you asking me for a 'get over an ex' fuck?"
Frank looked at him and shook his head.
"Quite the opposite actually"
"Oh really? You're talking to someone new?"
"Kinda"

Kinda was the right response. Frank still doesn't know where him and Gerard stand, it's almost been a week since they first started talking and they still haven't figured out much about each other. Franks jerked off a total of four times over some of the dirty messages he'll receive from Gerard but Frank doesn't return the favour of sexting. Why? Mainly because he feels intimidated by the older man. It's fairly obvious his kink is being the dominant one and that's new to Frank, it scares him a little because sure he can handle it over a Grindr chat room but can he in real life? And the older is beginning to grow on Frank to the point where they can hardly go an hour without sending a message to each other, and Frank doesn't want to ruin any chance of taking it further with Gerard just because he's a pussy and can't get the hang of the red heads kink.

"Kinda?" Chase pushed for answers, he always did this.
"I've kinda been talking to someone on Grindr"
"Grindr never ends in relationships it's a hook up app"
"Sometimes it does" Frank replied a little too defensively, making it clear to himself that he really wanted something with Gee.
"Okay okay, what do you know about this guy?"
"His name is Gee, he's thirty five, he's local but has spent time in the big apple and he's into art"
Chase began drying the mugs giving Frank a look.
"What?"
"Is that all you know?"
"He's got a younger brother and I know what he looks like"
"How long you been talking for"
"Almost a week now" Frank replies grabbing a towel helping his boss with the actual reason they are here; to work. Chase was going to reply but a customer came up to the counter and interrupted their interesting conversation.

Frank stood back drying the mugs as he watched Chase take the order and make the drink, but before long we was back in his day dreaming state thinking about Gerard.

~

Gee❤️‍🔥
I need coffee
Stupid deadlines
Making me all stressed I'm gonna be grey by the end of the week!

Frank looked down at his phone from where it was placed on the table at his usual window seat. He was on his break and indulging in a coffee of his own and a sandwich from the subway next door. He smiled at the message, speaking to Gerard really was his favourite part of the day.

F
Deadlines?

Gee❤️‍🔥
Art deadlines!
I'm storyboarding for a kids TV network
I forgot that it was even a project I was working on
I blame you sugar
Spending all my time messaging you

F
Hey don't put this on me you need to manage your time better
And besides you started this
Having regrets?

Frank fucking hopes not. He's only just gotten over Adam he doesn't need to be heartbroken again if Gerard decides his fun is over.

Gee❤️‍🔥
Of course not sugar
I started it for a reason and I don't intend on finishing it
Besides haven't even met you yet 😘

"Frank" he looked up to his name being called. Chase was waving him over, it was the lunch time rush and they needed all the hands they could get. He pocketed his phone and went back over to the counter pouring the remainder of his drink down the sink and putting the mug in the pot wash.
"Stay on that station for me will ya" Frank nodded in response and did as his boss asked. He went off in his own little world piling in the used mugs into the pot wash, his back to the lobby.

"You don't get an input MikeyWay!"
"You're living under my roof, I think I do" Mikey replied as they both walked down the wet street side by side.
"Gee you really need to be picking up some extra shifts" Gerard rolled his eyes.
"Mikey, I'm a substitute, they call me when they need me I can't just ask for more shifts when there's none to give"
"Then go to other schools and ask them too, you're getting paid scraps by these networks and it's not enough to help me out with the rent"
"Don't worry yourself little bro, I have a good feeling about this storyboard I handed in, it'll be a hit"
Mikey rolled his eyes. He wishes his brother would listen to him more often.
"Don't worry I'll be out of your hair soon Mikes, but now, coffee" Gerard says as he makes a sharp turn into the Starbucks almost cutting off Mikey in the process.

They both walked in and joined the line that had formed. And although they always order the same thing they still stood and looked at the menu.
"You know me" Mikey said before leaving Gerard in the line to find a seat. Gerard smiled to himself as he watched Mikey claim one of the booths by the far wall and get out a book from his bag.

The line eventually started dying down and Gerard managed to start his order.
"Sit in or take out"
"Sit in please" Gerard replied and as he rummaged for some money in his pockets he was distracted by someone throwing a tantrum at the pick up counter. It seemed to get everyone's attention as heads were quick to look up and over at the baristas behind the counter.

"You're all incompetent" the angry guy had decided that he didn't want a latte but cappuccino instead. 'Like he could tell the difference' Gerard thought to himself.
"We'll change it for you, no need to cause a scene"
Chase said taking charge of the situation.
"Cause a scene? There wouldn't be one if you all could do your fucking jobs right"
"Well maybe, if you think you can do better apply for a job asshole how about that?" Frank didn't have the patience to be dealing with a Karen today.

It took a second for Frank to process what had happened. At first he heard the gasps from everyone around him and then he began to feel the hot liquid making itself at home all over himself. He looked down at his Green apron to see the dark patch where the coffee had been thrown over him and that was enough to ruin his whole week and before he knew it he was throwing himself over the counter and toward the much taller man was very ready for a fight.

The first thing that Gerard thought was how unfortunate it was that these people have to deal with assholes like that. And then he saw who decided to speak up to defend the team of baristas and he couldn't believe who he was seeing. He was short was Gerards first observation of seeing Frank in person and then he took in all those beautiful features he'd seen in the photos Frank had sent him. But he didn't have time to think about that because those beautiful features were soon covered in hot coffee and Gerard gasped loud as well as everyone around him. And soon Frank was on the same side of the counter as himself and the dick that threw the coffee. He knew he had to step in.

Frank saw red as he lunged himself forward towards the asshole. He saw red and felt two hands on both of his arms with a strong grip.
"He's not worth it" Gerard said calmly. Frank was close to shoving whoever it was that had stopped him but then he actually looked at who it was. And that's the real reason he saw red.

It was red haired, thirty five year old, artsy Gerard.