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2016-10-12
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2023-03-01
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Coffee Grounds and Sniper Rounds

Chapter 2: Monday

Notes:

Posting the first two chapters in one go because the first one is super short. Let me know what you think!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The shrill sounds of Ray’s alarm greeted him the next morning, waking him up to a still-dark room and a quiet apartment. Ray rolled over to sleepily glare at the clock, the bright green numbers showing the time as 5:30 in the morning. He groaned and rubbed a hand over his face, his other hand clumsily turning off the alarm. Once the noise stopped, Ray sighed heavily before struggling his way out of bed, going through the motions of his morning routine without much enthusiasm.

Geoff sometimes joked that one of the perks of being criminals was avoiding the early hours and full days of an office job. Ray would agree, except for the fact that he was currently up at 5:47 on a Monday, pulling on his jacket and beanie and hefting the bag holding his sniper rifle onto his back before heading out the door. It was cold, as he expected a fall morning to be, and Ray buried his hands deep in his pockets as he headed towards the warehouse.

A few blocks down, the smell of coffee stopped Ray in his tracks. He hadn't eaten before leaving- Jack was always scolding him for not taking care of himself- and he felt his stomach growl in response to the rich aroma. His phone read 6:02, and he figured he had enough time to grab a cup of coffee before taking his place on the roof all day. It wasn't like Geoff would know, anyway. As long as he came back with the information they needed- which he would, he always did- it wouldn't matter if he got there in the next five minutes or the next ten.

Mind made up, Ray crossed the street to where a small coffee shop sat. He had seen it before, passed it on his way to other places, but had never stopped inside. As he neared the door, he could see that the open sign wasn't on, and a glance into the window showed a lone man taking chairs down from the tables. Ray was about to turn and leave when the man looked up, meeting his eyes through the glass. He smiled and pointed at the door, tilting his head in a silent question. Ray nodded, moving over to the door as the man did the same and unlocked it from the inside.

“Thanks,” Ray said as he pushed through the door, rubbing his hands together to warm them as he stepped into the cafe. The man flashed another smile, heading over to the counter and tapping a few buttons on the register to start it up.

“No problem,” he replied. Now that Ray was closer, he could see that the man’s name tag read ‘Ryan’. It was a habit for Ray to size people up, one he picked up from his line of work, but this was just a bit different. Ryan was tall and broad-shouldered, with sandy blonde hair that fell in waves above bright blue eyes. Somehow, Ray felt a lot more awake just by looking at him. Between his general appearance and the warm smile he had given Ray at the window, he was definitely an attractive man.

Since Ray was distracted by his assessment of Ryan, he didn't realize Ryan was speaking until he was halfway through his sentence. He quickly tuned back in, managing to catch the rest of Ryan's comment.

“-this early. We do open at six, technically, but our first customers normally roll in around 6:30.”

Ray almost felt embarrassed, and just as soon felt embarrassed for feeling embarrassed. Really, he was a criminal, part of the most powerful crew in Los Santos. He shouldn't be letting some asshole barista fluster him so easily, even if he did have nice eyes and a dazzling smile.

But here he was, tongue practically hanging out of his mouth while he stared at the guy. He hadn't dated anyone for years, true, but it should still take more than a pretty face to stop him in his tracks.

Ray reigned his thoughts in once again, trying to focus on keeping up a conversation. “Oh, uh… Sorry?”

Ryan laughed, briefly and genuinely, and Ray would swear later that he would have done anything in that moment to hear that sound again. He was so fucked.

“No, it's no trouble. It's actually kind of nice to have someone in this early,” Ryan assured him. “Makes the job a lot more interesting.”

Ray could only smile, even as his mind was working at a million miles an hour trying to figure out if Ryan was flirting. Was that how people flirted? Did Ray want it to be flirting? He had only just met Ryan, and already he was wanting to flirt with the guy. What a pathetic piece of shit he was.

His train of thought was interrupted by Ryan, who was talking again. Ray didn't catch the whole thing, but he was pretty sure the word ‘drink’ had been in there. Fuck. Ryan wanted his order. Ray had almost completely forgotten that he had come in here for coffee. Not only that, but he still had places to be, as much as he wanted to stay and chat.

Ray didn't bother looking at the menu, instead asking Ryan for, “Whatever has the most sugar and caffeine in it. Large, please.” Ryan nodded and typed in the order, fixing the drink while Ray swiped his card. A few seconds later, Ryan returned to the register, handing over the coffee and glancing at the receipt before handing that to Ray as well.

Ray mumbled a ‘thanks,’ stuffing the receipt in his pocket and wishing he had some way to prolong the interaction between him and Ryan. His phone told him it was 6:12, though, so he really had to get going.

Ryan smiled at him again, gesturing to the pocket where Ray had put the receipt. “It's Ray, right? That's what it said on your card, is that what you go by?”

The question caught Ray off guard, and he fumbled for a second before finding the right words. “Uh, yeah. Yup. That's me. And you're Ryan? Because of the name tag?”

Ryan nodded, seeming pleased that Ray had noticed. “I don't want to keep you- just wanted to make sure I had your name right. Have a good day, Ray.”

Ray managed to get out a smile and a “You too, Ryan,” before all but racing out the door, not slowing his pace until he was a good block and a half away. Fucking christ, he was a mess. He kept thinking of Ryan all the way to his post, cursing himself for being such an idiot and falling all over himself for some guy he barely interacted with.

Of course, it didn't help that when he got there, he went to take a sip of coffee only to see a little drawing on the lid, done quickly in sharpie but recognizable all the same. It was a cartoonish portrait of Ray, beanie and all. He was smiling and holding a cup of coffee in a stick hand, and Ray was absolutely smitten. On top of that, the coffee was absolutely perfect- hot and sweet and strong, and Ray tried very hard not to draw parallels.

For the rest of the day, Ryan occupied Ray’s thoughts. Even long after the coffee was finished, the cup thrown out (but the lid hidden away in a pocket), and the information on the warehouse gathered, Ray was still thinking of him. Maybe if he went back the next day, he reasoned, he would realize how stupid it was to be pining over this guy. Surely Ryan wasn't so great. Ray had just been tired, and Ryan had been at least moderately attractive. That was all.

Ray ended his day with a firm plan for the next; he would go see Ryan again, this time later in the day. That way he would be more alert, and less susceptible to Ryan's charm. Then maybe Ray could get him out of his head and focus again. Just one more visit would do it.

Notes:

If you liked it, please let me know! I have the next two (maybe three) chapters written up but if no one's reading it then I probably won't post them, or I'll take a really long time to get them up. If people really want more, though, I'll try to work out a semi-permanent update schedule!