The thump of the bass matched the steady pounding of her feet as they hit the asphalt. Humming along to the Weeknd's faucetto she turned down the Freedom Park Trail at a brisk pace. Her ponytail swinging from side to side as Beyoncé crooned about stacking her money, money everywhere she goes. Her breathing coming normally as she picked up the pace, wanting to push herself to the limit. The Carter Center coming into view as she slowed to a leisure trot. It was suppose to be her day off, but somehow she'd managed to get roped into covering for Abe again. As the co-owner of Black Hole, the tiny watering hole that catered to disaffected youth, hipsters and the occasional tourist who was looking for an 'authentic' Atlanta experience, whatever that meant. After resting at one of the park benches for a few moments, and stretching a bit, she headed back home to dress and prepare for another long day at the bar.
The chime of the doorbell roused her from her daydream, as she wiped down the Durango Sunset reclaimed wood bar with her favorite blue bar rag. The Black Hole, partly named because most customers managed to get sucked in there for hours, but also because the celestial feel to the place, a cosmic pull as her more spiritual witchy weirdo friends called it. Walking through the doors patrons were greeted with a long bar to the right and a number of high top tables that rested to the left, the narrow passing space led to a patio and beer garden that hosted trellises of ivy and a mosaic of succulents on the far side of the patio. Low tables for smaller parties were farther back while the larger group section was separated by potted plants and a divider wall that spotted a number of Hostas in pots, and herbs- some rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
Glancing up, she caught eyes with the most ruggedly handsome man. Sporting a form fitting black leather jacket and tight black pants with combat boots, his jet black hair spiked in a seemingly unintentional and wind-whipped fashion. His fawn skin radiating against the sunlight which streamed from the front windows as he set is wide set and deep brown eyes moved in her direction. She threw the blue rag across her shoulder in a theatrical flourish, watching him glance over her scoop neck black crop top and waist high cut off black shorts, frayed ever so slightly at the bottoms. Noting the exposed skin that left much to be desired and little to the imagination, he marveled at the smoothness of her umber skin, which somehow managed to shine in the dimly lit bar. She was the first to open the conversation, asking "What can get you?"
She watched him collect his thoughts as her velvety voice washed over his calm disposition.
"Oh hey, I'm just waiting for my brother. But I'll have a look at the menu." He said to which she pointed to the chalkboard above her head which listed the draft beer options and the specialty cocktails for the week.
"The patio's open if you want to sit outside. I can send your brother out to you." She offered.
"Yeah, sure. Let me get a negroni while I wait for him." He said.
"Gin preference?" she asked.
"I trust your judgement." He said
"Well Gin it is." She said with a slight giggle.
"On second thought, how about some Hendrix" he said.
"Good choice." She noted grabbing the bottles and throwing together his cocktail with speed.
"Want to keep a tab open?" she offered to which he affirmatively replied handing her his credit card, she glanced at the black card that read John Rhee on it.
"Head out back John and I'll send your brother out when he gets here."
"How did you know my name?" he asked as she picked up his credit card and fanned it in front of her face. He smirked at how obvious it was that she had gleaned his name from his credit card.
"Thanks. I didn't get your name." he said, watching her eyes light up with mischief.
"Michonne. Welcome to my bar." She said, nodding for him to head to the patio and relax.
Michonne continued to set up the bar, cutting fruit for cocktails, putting away the beer glasses that Abe didn't the night before, and going over the stock at the front. She had begun writing the specials and draft options for the week when the bell chimed again signaling another customer's arrival. Although it was only three in the afternoon, she knew things would be picking up later with the happy hour crowd and she knew she'd have a long night since the 'Thirsty Thursday' hooligans from the biker crew were going to stop by for karaoke. Making sure to note to pick up more cheap beer from the basement, she glanced behind her to meet another set of rich brown eyes, slightly closer together and tawny skin. The jet black hair slicked back behind his ears with a baseball cap adorned his head, his full lips turning up into a smile as he noticed the attractive woman behind the bar, standing on a stool with a piece of chalk in her hand. Every naughty school boy- hot teacher fantasy flowing through his mind as he marveled at her plump backside, the scoop of her toned mahogany legs and the unmissable tattoo of some geometric shapes on both of her calves. She was hot and he was sure to thank his brother for bringing him here.
"You John's brother?" she asked climbing down from the step ladder to face him. A look of confusion crossing his face at how anyone could recognize him since he'd only moved to Atlanta about six months ago.
"Uh, yeah." He replied.
"Family resemblance. Also, he told me you were coming." She offered, her honey cadence running across his broad shoulders and right to pit of his stomach.
"He's in the back." She said, ignoring the look of confusion that colored his face.
"Thanks." He said, walking towards the back with a nod.
When he got outside he found his brother had discarded his jacket and was wearing a tight black V-neck and his signature combat boots and black pants. He watch his brother take off his sunglasses and watch him walk towards his table in his white Henley and blue jeans, his red baseball cap covering his eyes slightly.
"Took you long enough Glenn. Finished my first drink already." John rose to embrace his little brother before plopping back into his seat and picking up his watery drink from the mesh metal table.
"Sorry. Atlanta traffic is terrible." He said taking a seat across from John and removing his hat.
"You want a drink?" John asked, as Glenn ran his fingers through his hair, looking both so young and yet so worn out. "Yeah, get me a whiskey and coke." He said, as John was about to get up to go to the bar Michonne appeared with two glasses of water and a smile across her face.
"Hey" she said "sorry, I had to wait until the bar back came, but did you want another drink John?" she offered, her smile catching Glenn and John off guard. They both managed to pull themselves together before John piped up
"yeah, I'll have the same. Glenn?" he asked his brother who was rubbing his chin as if contemplating the meaning of life.
"Oh yeah. I'll have a whiskey and coke." Glenn offered.
"Any whiskey in particular Glenn?" she asked, causing him to smirk at the way his name fell from her lips,
"Surprise me." He said, genuinely interested in what she'd pick for him.
"Well whiskey it is?" she followed up. "Umm… how about just some Jim Beam" he said, which caused her to smirk again.
"So well whiskey it is" she said and reached for the glass in John's hand before adding,
"Got it. We don't do food here, so if you're hungry stop by Mary's across the street. You can bring it back here if you want." She said before turning around and bouncing into the small bar.
"Glenn, I'm really liking your neighborhood." John said before going back to sit. "Yeah, me too." Glenn said with a smirk on his face. Truth be told he hadn't ventured out much since moving to Little Five Points after the horrible break up with his live in girlfriend of five years Maggie.
"Can you believe that? She said 'lets cut our losses' as though the last five years together weren't anything. What does that even mean? 'cut our losses'? I moved to this city for her and here I am alone living with some weirdo named Eugene and this young kid Noah."
John just shook his head marveling at how scentimental his younger brother was.
"Dude, it's done. So 'cut your losses' and move on." John said as a matter of principle. He had really liked Maggie but knew that they weren't going to do the whole family, kids, dog thing. Glenn was much more of a romantic than he was, and John wanted his little brother to have fun, date hot girls and god forbid have a one-night stand.
"Glenn, you've been single for six months, time to get back on the horse." He said with a laugh.
"Easy for you to say, your last serious girlfriend was Andrea Harrison in middle school." Glenn gave his brother a pointed look as John released a mirthful laugh.
"That's true Glenn but like I said, you're young, hot, and ripped. Girls would kill for some of that Rhee action."
The faint sound of a chuckle took them out of the conversation. The two looked at Michonne has she held out their respective drinks to them, giving Glenn a little smile.
"He's right you know." Michonne offered, not bothering to pretend that she didn't hear the conversation. "You are a smoke show. Might is as well, what did you say John 'get back on the horse and share some of that 'Rhee action''" she winked, causing a slight flush to appear on Glenn's cheeks.
John, who had been watching the interaction stepped up and offered
"See, Michonne said it, and even though she has bad taste in gin and whiskey, she's an attractive lady. She'd know for sure." Michonne shook her head at the compliment before walking away from the party.
Back inside, Spencer the bar back was hauling crates of cheap beer for karaoke night in a white tank top and blue jeans. When Michonne reentered the bar he smiled at her in greeting.
"You think three cases is enough?"
"You wanna grab two more during peak hours?" she replied.
Sighing he gathered himself and headed back to the basement to bring up the remaining cases. As the afternoon drifted, Michonne caught herself walking to the back patio a couple more times to just chat with the Rhee brothers, who she found very funny and charming. Around five the happy hour crowd started to roll in and Michonne greeted a few of her regulars. Glenn and John had continued to hold court in the beer garden, catching up and enjoying the leisure of a warm Georgia afternoon. The two were settling up with Spencer when Michonne appeared from the basement, carrying a few bottles of booze in her hands.
"You leaving?" she asked, noting their wind tussled hair and sun-kissed skin.
"Yeah, we got dinner plans with a few of my new co-workers." John noted.
"Oh well, if you're still out later it's karaoke night here." she offered glancing between the two handsome men.
"Maybe." Glenn offered glancing from her eyes down the length of her before meeting her fixed stare. John jumped in and thanked her for the good drinks and company, nothing they'd be back soon to which she offered a full watt smile and a slight nod.
The brothers Rhee exited the bar, walking over to John's motorcycle.
"You wanna drive?" John asked his little brother, to which Glenn shook his head and hopped on the back.
"Nah. But can we stop by my place, I should look more put together when I meet your co-workers right?"
"Yeah, sure. I don't want them to think you're auditioning for teenager #5 in the newest Netflix teen drama."
"You suck." Glenn said to his brother as he kicked his bike on and headed to Glenn's apartment.
XXXXX
A/N: Hi friends. So this story has been in my head for a little while, so I'm just gonna go with it. This is a friendship story between Michonne and Glenn (cuz they're the best!). There will be some Richonne, and also Michonne and an OC who I based on John Cho (I know, he's really really attractive). I really like how the folks at richonnejustdesserts on tumblr create playlists for some fics as well as authors like avintagekiss24, so there will be one coming. Thanks for reading this one. Some of the things are obviously OOC, so just go with it.