"Perfect Stranger" (1/1) by Lisa Michelle
Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction.
Category: AU, Kris/Adam angst, fluff
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Adam, lonely, but hopeful has an unexpected encounter at a coffee shop.
“Perfect Stranger” (1/1)
By Lisa Michelle
Adam took another sip of his coffee and checked the time on his phone. He scanned the crowd at the coffee shop, yet again, but everyone was in pairs engrossed in conversation with each other.
He sighed.
Glancing up at the door one more time and seeing no one, he fished a makeup bag out of his messenger bag hanging off the back of his chair. Taking out the mirrored compact, mascara and lip gloss, he set them out beside his phone. Adam started with the mascara first, applying it quickly and easily before moving to the lip gloss.
He heard their voices first. “Shit,” he murmured under his breath.
A few seconds later, they were right at his table. Hunter grabbed the chair opposite Adam and turned it around before plunking himself down. “Hey, Adam.”
His friend, Steve, grabbed a chair from a nearby table, much to the dismay of an elderly woman who was seated right next to it and followed his friend’s lead. “Whatcha doin’?”
“It looks as if he’s putting on makeup. Got a hot date, Adam?” Hunter asked.
“Go away.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Hunter asked. “Cause it sounded a lot like go away, didn’t it, Steve?”
“Reckon so,” Steve echoed his friend’s sentiments. “But we don’t take orders from fairies, do we?”
“Nope, we don’t,” Hunter said, lowering his voice a little. He moved his chair a dash closer to the table and said directly to Adam, “Take your sissy makeup and get the fuck outta here.”
Adam lowered his head. Why did they have to come here today of all days? Couldn’t they just leave him alone? Didn’t they have beer to drink and sports to watch or something? “No,” Adam said quietly, surprising himself most of all.
“No?”
“Go away,” he said, hoping it sounded more forceful this time.
“You heard him. He said go away.”
Adam looked up to see a good-looking young man with brown hair dressed in a tank top and jeans, wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses. Was this the guy?
“This is none of your business,” Hunter said.
“You’re harassing my friend, so it is my business,” the man said.
“Well, your friend wears makeup,” Steve said, eliciting a laugh out of Hunter.
“I’ve told him he looks fine without it, but it makes him happy,” the man said. “Besides, he’s not harming anyone.”
“He’s harming the whole town by being a sissy and wearing makeup,” Hunter said. “He needs to go somewhere else and be with his own kind.”
“And what kind would that be?” the man asked Hunter.
“Y’know, where the rest of those fairies are out in California or something,” he replied. “I don’t know. I ain’t one of ‘em.”
“Well, then I guess I better start packing and head out there,” the man said. “But before I do, I want the two of you to apologize to him and go get me an iced coffee.”
Hunter stood up. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Do you really want to do this?” the man asked. “Here? People are starting to stare and I’m getting thirsty. So, take your homophobic friend and get up to the counter before the line gets any longer. Now.”
Hunter and Steve left Adam’s table and went to the front of the store to get in line for the coffee. The man took the seat vacated by Hunter. Adam stared at him for a second before speaking. “Who are you and what are you doing?”
“I’m getting myself a free iced coffee,” he said.
Adam couldn’t help but smirk at the comment. “No,” he said. “Are you some kind of superhero who comes into coffee shops and saves gay men from being bullied?”
“If so, then I forgot my cape.” He took off his sunglasses and hooked them in the front of his shirt.
Adam immediately saw a pair of warm brown eyes staring back at him. He smiled at the stranger and hoped Hunter and Steve took their time getting the coffee.
“I take it they’re not friends of yours,” he said.
“No,” Adam replied. “I’ve known them since high school and they make it their life's mission to make fun of me. Sometimes I hate living in a small Southern town. I try standing up to them, but I seem to lose confidence and they sense my fear.”
“I used to get teased for being short,” the man said. “Something I can’t change, but I started lifting weights a couple of years ago and that helped me with my confidence. Unfortunately, it was too late since I was out of high school by then.”
Adam took another look at his arms and definitely liked what he saw. Even the wife beater looked great on this guy. It was usually worn by scrawny looking men on TV complete with a baseball cap when they recounted the way the tornado touched down and usually in an ungrammatical way to the local news reporter. “I -“ Adam broke off when Hunter and Steve returned with the coffee, setting it down rather roughly in front of the man.
“I hope you choke on it,” Hunter said. “You and your perverted friend.”
“Nice,” the man said. “I’m sure your mother would be proud. However, I think you forgot something.”
“Yeah, to kick your ass,” Steve said.
“No, the apology to my friend,” he said. “It’s just one word. I’m sure between the two of you, you can manage it.”
“Fuck you,” Hunter hissed.
“Wrong word.”
Adam watched as the man grabbed Hunter’s arm, forcing him to lean over almost at eye level with the man. “Try again,” he said. “And after you apologize, you’ll leave and not come back here if my friend is here. Got it? He’s just sitting here minding his own business and the two of you have to interrupt a perfectly good afternoon.”
Adam tried hard not to smile. He really, really enjoyed Hunter and Steve being reprimanded like this. He wanted to pick up his phone and get it all on video. Maybe even post it to YouTube.
“Now, what were you going to say?” he asked.
“Sorry,” Hunter mumbled. Steve echoed his friend’s sentiments.
“Well, I guess that’s all the sincerity I’m going to get out of the two of you,” the man said. “Now, go on and get out of here.”
Adam watched as his rescuer glowered at them as they left the coffee shop and out onto the street. Neither of them even looked back or made a naughty gesture, much to Adam’s surprise.
“Now you can go back to enjoying your coffee,” the man said. He took a sip of his drink through the plastic straw and frowned. “Needs more sugar.”
Adam couldn’t help but stare at him. This tough guy taking a sip through a straw after what he’d just done. It was a bit of a disconnect for Adam’s brain to process.
“Oh, sorry,” the guy said, getting up. “I didn’t mean to insinuate I was sitting here at your table with you. I’m sure you’re waiting for someone or just want to be alone.”
He said insinuate. Who used that word? Adam was sure most of the people in the town never uttered it or even knew its meaning. He couldn’t let this guy leave. “Actually, no, I was waiting for a blind date, but since it’s been over an hour, I believe I’ve been stood up.”
“His loss,” the man said.
“Thanks,” Adam replied. “Not just for that, but for what you did. I . . . should be old enough to do that for myself, but I can’t seem to get the words out around them.”
“It takes practice,” he said, picking up the cup. “Trust me. I know.”
Adam didn’t want him to leave. He didn’t even know this guy’s name, only that he was good-looking and a crusader for the underdog. “What’s -“
“You want a refill,” the man asked, staring at Adam’s nearly empty coffee cup.
“Sure,” Adam replied. “But only if you’ll join me.”
“I’d love to,” he said. “My name’s Kris.” He picked up the cup.
“Adam,” Adam said.
“Adam,” he repeated with a slight smile before taking Adam’s glass up for a refill.
Adam watched as Kris went up to the counter thinking that Hunter and Steve were responsible for bringing this perfect stranger into his life.
Hopefully, Kris wouldn’t remain a stranger for much longer.
****
END (1/1)
Category: AU, Kris/Adam angst, fluff
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Adam, lonely, but hopeful has an unexpected encounter at a coffee shop.
“Perfect Stranger” (1/1)
By Lisa Michelle
Adam took another sip of his coffee and checked the time on his phone. He scanned the crowd at the coffee shop, yet again, but everyone was in pairs engrossed in conversation with each other.
He sighed.
Glancing up at the door one more time and seeing no one, he fished a makeup bag out of his messenger bag hanging off the back of his chair. Taking out the mirrored compact, mascara and lip gloss, he set them out beside his phone. Adam started with the mascara first, applying it quickly and easily before moving to the lip gloss.
He heard their voices first. “Shit,” he murmured under his breath.
A few seconds later, they were right at his table. Hunter grabbed the chair opposite Adam and turned it around before plunking himself down. “Hey, Adam.”
His friend, Steve, grabbed a chair from a nearby table, much to the dismay of an elderly woman who was seated right next to it and followed his friend’s lead. “Whatcha doin’?”
“It looks as if he’s putting on makeup. Got a hot date, Adam?” Hunter asked.
“Go away.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Hunter asked. “Cause it sounded a lot like go away, didn’t it, Steve?”
“Reckon so,” Steve echoed his friend’s sentiments. “But we don’t take orders from fairies, do we?”
“Nope, we don’t,” Hunter said, lowering his voice a little. He moved his chair a dash closer to the table and said directly to Adam, “Take your sissy makeup and get the fuck outta here.”
Adam lowered his head. Why did they have to come here today of all days? Couldn’t they just leave him alone? Didn’t they have beer to drink and sports to watch or something? “No,” Adam said quietly, surprising himself most of all.
“No?”
“Go away,” he said, hoping it sounded more forceful this time.
“You heard him. He said go away.”
Adam looked up to see a good-looking young man with brown hair dressed in a tank top and jeans, wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses. Was this the guy?
“This is none of your business,” Hunter said.
“You’re harassing my friend, so it is my business,” the man said.
“Well, your friend wears makeup,” Steve said, eliciting a laugh out of Hunter.
“I’ve told him he looks fine without it, but it makes him happy,” the man said. “Besides, he’s not harming anyone.”
“He’s harming the whole town by being a sissy and wearing makeup,” Hunter said. “He needs to go somewhere else and be with his own kind.”
“And what kind would that be?” the man asked Hunter.
“Y’know, where the rest of those fairies are out in California or something,” he replied. “I don’t know. I ain’t one of ‘em.”
“Well, then I guess I better start packing and head out there,” the man said. “But before I do, I want the two of you to apologize to him and go get me an iced coffee.”
Hunter stood up. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Do you really want to do this?” the man asked. “Here? People are starting to stare and I’m getting thirsty. So, take your homophobic friend and get up to the counter before the line gets any longer. Now.”
Hunter and Steve left Adam’s table and went to the front of the store to get in line for the coffee. The man took the seat vacated by Hunter. Adam stared at him for a second before speaking. “Who are you and what are you doing?”
“I’m getting myself a free iced coffee,” he said.
Adam couldn’t help but smirk at the comment. “No,” he said. “Are you some kind of superhero who comes into coffee shops and saves gay men from being bullied?”
“If so, then I forgot my cape.” He took off his sunglasses and hooked them in the front of his shirt.
Adam immediately saw a pair of warm brown eyes staring back at him. He smiled at the stranger and hoped Hunter and Steve took their time getting the coffee.
“I take it they’re not friends of yours,” he said.
“No,” Adam replied. “I’ve known them since high school and they make it their life's mission to make fun of me. Sometimes I hate living in a small Southern town. I try standing up to them, but I seem to lose confidence and they sense my fear.”
“I used to get teased for being short,” the man said. “Something I can’t change, but I started lifting weights a couple of years ago and that helped me with my confidence. Unfortunately, it was too late since I was out of high school by then.”
Adam took another look at his arms and definitely liked what he saw. Even the wife beater looked great on this guy. It was usually worn by scrawny looking men on TV complete with a baseball cap when they recounted the way the tornado touched down and usually in an ungrammatical way to the local news reporter. “I -“ Adam broke off when Hunter and Steve returned with the coffee, setting it down rather roughly in front of the man.
“I hope you choke on it,” Hunter said. “You and your perverted friend.”
“Nice,” the man said. “I’m sure your mother would be proud. However, I think you forgot something.”
“Yeah, to kick your ass,” Steve said.
“No, the apology to my friend,” he said. “It’s just one word. I’m sure between the two of you, you can manage it.”
“Fuck you,” Hunter hissed.
“Wrong word.”
Adam watched as the man grabbed Hunter’s arm, forcing him to lean over almost at eye level with the man. “Try again,” he said. “And after you apologize, you’ll leave and not come back here if my friend is here. Got it? He’s just sitting here minding his own business and the two of you have to interrupt a perfectly good afternoon.”
Adam tried hard not to smile. He really, really enjoyed Hunter and Steve being reprimanded like this. He wanted to pick up his phone and get it all on video. Maybe even post it to YouTube.
“Now, what were you going to say?” he asked.
“Sorry,” Hunter mumbled. Steve echoed his friend’s sentiments.
“Well, I guess that’s all the sincerity I’m going to get out of the two of you,” the man said. “Now, go on and get out of here.”
Adam watched as his rescuer glowered at them as they left the coffee shop and out onto the street. Neither of them even looked back or made a naughty gesture, much to Adam’s surprise.
“Now you can go back to enjoying your coffee,” the man said. He took a sip of his drink through the plastic straw and frowned. “Needs more sugar.”
Adam couldn’t help but stare at him. This tough guy taking a sip through a straw after what he’d just done. It was a bit of a disconnect for Adam’s brain to process.
“Oh, sorry,” the guy said, getting up. “I didn’t mean to insinuate I was sitting here at your table with you. I’m sure you’re waiting for someone or just want to be alone.”
He said insinuate. Who used that word? Adam was sure most of the people in the town never uttered it or even knew its meaning. He couldn’t let this guy leave. “Actually, no, I was waiting for a blind date, but since it’s been over an hour, I believe I’ve been stood up.”
“His loss,” the man said.
“Thanks,” Adam replied. “Not just for that, but for what you did. I . . . should be old enough to do that for myself, but I can’t seem to get the words out around them.”
“It takes practice,” he said, picking up the cup. “Trust me. I know.”
Adam didn’t want him to leave. He didn’t even know this guy’s name, only that he was good-looking and a crusader for the underdog. “What’s -“
“You want a refill,” the man asked, staring at Adam’s nearly empty coffee cup.
“Sure,” Adam replied. “But only if you’ll join me.”
“I’d love to,” he said. “My name’s Kris.” He picked up the cup.
“Adam,” Adam said.
“Adam,” he repeated with a slight smile before taking Adam’s glass up for a refill.
Adam watched as Kris went up to the counter thinking that Hunter and Steve were responsible for bringing this perfect stranger into his life.
Hopefully, Kris wouldn’t remain a stranger for much longer.
****
END (1/1)