Chapter Text
"I'll be quick, Han," Charlie promised Hannah as she apologetically scurried to the ladies room in the middle of the evening rush.
Hannah had been struggling as of late. As a small business owner of a café and coffee company along the gulf coast, he'd sacrificed so much getting his business up and running. Much to his satisfaction, his hard work had paid off.
Lazarus Brew not only delivered on the claim it could raise the almost-dead from wild weekends come Monday morning, his customers were enjoying his selection of non caffeinated beverages, suitable for calm evenings with pleasant company at his café. Yet, despite this success, he still found himself short on adequate help, personal time, and pleasant company of his own. He could afford an evening off and would welcome it, if someone were to toss a few more willing baristas in his direction, as well as a guy who was interested in him and available.
During the Monday evening rush (seriously, who had those?), he’d been loitering in his office trying to get a start on the nightly books when Charlie took a bathroom break. Hearing the sound of more business approaching the ordering counter, he set down his calculator and books to provide some hands on customer service. Two men holding hands were softly discussing their ordering options while other customers were animatedly chattering on around them, when Hannah found himself nearly speechless at their appearance.
One was quite tall with sharply defined features, neatly combed light brown hair, holding himself with a confident posture and an incredibly sincere demeanor. The other, although shorter than the first, was taller than Hannah with the most piercing blue eyes, well groomed beard, stout frame, and there existed astounding joy in his compassionate face.
Together they made a striking couple, with an air of affection and contentment of which Hannah only dreamt of having. When their eyes met Hannah's, an inexplicable longing bloomed in his chest. He wanted to know them both. Wanted to have what they had with each other. It wasn't so much their dashing looks he found so appealing, Hannah wanted to buy them coffee, then sit with them for hours listening to them talk. He had to say something before they found his silent staring creepy.
"What can I get started for you gents tonight?"
The tall one ordered a large white mocha with a shot of pumpkin spice. His boyfriend or husband ordered a peppermint soy latté.
"Been meaning t'give this place a whirl, we hear good things."
The compliment warmed Hannah's heart, learning there were good things about his coffee circulating through the town's rumor mill.
"I really appreciate the business. Fairly new to town and this region, wasn't sure I could complete with the long established Creole style drinks and pastries," Hannah easily conversed.
Tall and handsome reached over the counter to offer his hand in greeting. "Welcome to Couer d'Orleans. I'm Gadreel, this is mon chèr, Benjamin."
Benjamin brushed him off shyly, providing his preferred moniker. "You go on and call me Benny. Where'd you used to hang yer hat...uh…?"
"Hannah, but you can call me Han-"
"Just like Han Solo," Charlie cheerfully submitted, bouncing behind the counter from the hall bathroom, "but as you can see he's no stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf-herder!"
He would appreciate her pop culture induced assistance later; right now it was mortifying.
"Alright, yes Charlie, thank you.." Hannah coughed out, "I'd just as soon kiss a wookie."
It dawned on him when turning to Gadreel that by comparison, the guy was very much the size of a wookie, only infinitely more handsome.
The guy leaned on the counter as Hannah placed his drink with a slip-on temperature guard in front of him, boring holes through his very being. "That can be arranged. You could use a good kiss."
Jesus Christ on a cracker..did Gadreel really just say that? He was praying to he-didn't-quite-know-who, that his olive complexion was camouflaging the flames that were his cheeks. The only recovery he could come up with on the fly when handing Benny his drink was, "you can tell me if I've earned it after drinking these."
A perfectly calm and rather gleeful pair of men were staring back at him, and the charged moment had him questioning if he'd just committed some social faux pas. Benny passed him his debit card and Hannah swiftly dismissed it. "It's on the house, you're the first Star Wars fans I've met here."
"Sit down with us then," Gadreel offered.
Hell, was Hannah tempted. It was a half hour before closing and a few more customers were trickling out, enough that he may as well close up shop when the last couple of stragglers decided to get a move on.
"Got things under control, boss," Charlie informed and gave him a silent " GO," gesturing he should indeed sit with Gadreel and Benny.
Hannah decided to indulge and sit with the guys who'd effectively captured his heart and extreme intrigue within a matter of minutes. Turns out Gadreel started his own accounting firm, and Benny had set up an agency in the county that found employment for parolees trying to get back on their feet. The two had been together fifteen years and were polyamorous.
•☆•
Couple of months down the road Hannah had his first scheduled night off, confident with Charlie at the helm, plus Frank and Garth, his shop was in good hands. His books were balanced by someone Gadreel trusted, and his shop had the help it needed thanks to Benny.
"Those burgers on the grill yet, chèr?" Benny called to Gadreel outside on their back patio, "what's taking so long?"
Gadreel was carrying nearly everything himself and just stepping outside to get set up when Hannah cozied up behind him, whispering, "Would it help if I got out and pushed?"
Tall and handsome froze, dropped a packet of cheese slices on the deck which Hannah retrieved and gave him a kiss.
Gadreel replied with a smirk, "It might."
Hannah grabbed two or three, okay five things from Gadreel which were about to topple over, and darted ahead to open the grill. Benny was in their family room, queuing up A New Hope.
It was their first Netflix and chill. The suspense came from the fact that all three were die hard Star Wars nerds, so it was anyone's guess if they'd get their sexy on or out-dialogue each other. Hell, with all three of them, Hannah smiled to himself considering sex with them might even involve Star Wars dialogue.
Now that he finally had the time, he really looked forward to finding out.