*Whoo it's a coffee shop AU! This one will probably be one of the longest things I write (I might make it into a seperate book) as I've fallen in love with this idea and will most likely include my own OCs lol. Anything actually good you see in this has been stolen from "Sons of Libertea" by fihli on Archive of our own ( /works/6052915/chapters/13876744) which you should totally go read rn it's beautiful. Anyway- enjoy!*
Alexander ducked under the awning of the café as quickly as he could, hefting his bag higher on his shoulder as he shook some of the rain out of his hair. He had been kind of scared to believe his luck: a 24 hour coffee shop? And barely three blocks from his college? There was no way it wouldn't turn out to be a creepy dump that drugged drinks and kidnapped people- although you'd think they would have chosen a cooler name. The sign outside The Coffee Grind-Stone had been neatly painted, but was apparently pretty old, if the peeling and weathering was anything to go by, and was currently dripping a mixture of rust and running paint down the back of his coat. But what he could see through the slightly steamed windows looked welcoming. He wondered why he hadn't visited it before- hadn't made the time- a 24 hour coffee shop. This place was made for him.
He'd been half way through another immense essay for Washington when he had woken up with his face smushed against his keyboard and his glaring phone screen reading 2am. Rather than give up, as he knew continuing there would have been a long-shot, he'd hastily punched in a search for any place nearby that was still open, and hardly believed his eyes when he'd found exactly what he was looking for. Too bad the weather was against him. He peeled his coat off his arms before entering: no-one wanted a soaking floor to clean up, after all, and wrung it out a little on the street outside.
Prepared to be disappointed, he pushed open the door and was surprised by the bell that rang out sharply through the shop as he did so. A small, cozy seeming room greeted him.
"Just a second- I'll be out!" came a shout from what he could only assume was a back room. Alexander set his bag and coat down at a small table, looking around the space with growing interest as he approached the counter. It was completely deserted apart from him, and relatively dark, lit by only a couple of lamps standing on two of the tables. He guessed they relied on natural light during the day. The tables themselves were a mismatch; no two were the same, and some were draped with shawls or rugs as makeshift tablecloths. It smelled a little of moth-balls, but mostly just of 3am-deserted warehouse and brewing coffee, something unexpectedly welcoming. If he craned his neck, Alex could see stains of some kind running across the ceiling. A burst water pipe, maybe? All in all, the place was a mess. Alex already loved it.
"Sorry, sorry! What are you here for?" In a flurry, a cloud of black curls appeared behind the counter, accompanied by a beautiful young woman in a faded apron. She was tying her hair back with an elastic band as she spoke, smiling tiredly as he glanced around for a menu.
"I'll get..."
"Oh no, what are you here for." the woman repeated impatiently. "As in: what are you here to do?"
"I'm... uh... finishing an assignment" Alex stammered, caught off-guard by her animated presence; her dark eyes were sharp and she was gesticulating wildly as she spoke. "I- I fell asleep in my room. Why-"
"College student?"
"Uh- yeah."
"Right." She narrowed her eyes at him, scrutinising his face before looking him up and down, her eyes travelling down to his practically sole-less sneakers to his sopping beanie with a calculating air. After a few seconds, she turned away, heading for the coffee machine. "It'll be done in a couple of minutes. Go get started- I'll bring it to you."
"Uh- a-alright" A little taken aback, Alex sat down at a table and pulled out his laptop out of his bag. He opened it in front of him, thankful for the extra pocket that had protected it from the rain, and began work on his assignment again. To his delight and slight surprise, he found that his mind was much clearer, and his fingers flowed quickly over the keyboard, spilling his ideas onto the paper. After a minute or so of frantic typing, a tap on his shoulder made him jump. The barista laughed a little at his shocked expression and set a steaming cup next to him, saying
"Your drink. Enjoy."
"What is it?" Alex asked her suspiciously, sniffing at the cup.
"Uh, coffee? Drink up. Trust me, it's what you need."
Hesitantly, Alex took a sip of the scorching drink, ready to spit it out if he tasted something odd, but his eyes widened at the flavour of it for a completely different reason.
"Damn." he muttered. The barista grinned down at him, looking pleased with herself.
"Good, huh?" It was more than good.
"How did you know what I'd like?" She shrugged modestly.
"It's a gift. Or- it's something I've been practicing. I've got a friend who's way better at it, though- he works this shift some days."
"Don't be so modest! Trust me: I can't think of a drink I'd prefer right now."
"Well, thanks. I guess I'll leave you to it" she gestured to his laptop. Alexander fished in his bag for his wallet.
"How much?"
"$1.99" He handed the money over with a smile, before turning back to his work.
Around an hour later, the bell at the door rang again and Alexander looked up to see two young men enter, arms around each other and looking quite at home in the place. Both towered over him at his low stool, but while the first was broad and muscular, the other was slim and far taller- the contrast made for an interesting image.
"Angelica, ma cocotte, are you there?" called the tall one, a man with skin like strong tea and a frizz of curls tied back at the nape of his neck, leaning one arm on the counter. He had a thick, throaty accent. French? Alex had never been good at placing accents.
"When am I not?" sighed the barista, Angelica, emerging from the back room and smiling at the pair. Then she frowned. "Wait- doesn't "cocotte" mean casserole in French?"
The other man snorted and his friend hit him lightly on the arm.
"Hey, you are the one who will call people a banana." he said, casting a confused and mildly offended look at Angelica.
"Well, yes, it means you're being silly."
"Cocotte means darling too- like your 'honey'" the man told her, shaking his head and handing over some money. "And we will have our usual, thank you."
The two sat down at the table next to Alex, who smiled politely as the broader one, who was wearing a tattered beanie similar to his own, nodded to him in acknowledgement. A few minutes later, Angelica had returned with their drinks.
"Gentlemen" she said, giving a mock bow as she placed an espresso in front of one and a towering glass of something complex looking and creamy in front of the other. No prizes for guessing which was which.
The three of them lapsed into a quiet conversation, partly in French, which seemed to annoy the beanie guy- Alex supposed he didn't speak it- but didn't disturb him as he worked.
In another hour, he was done. He stretched his arms above his head, grunting, and closed the laptop. A whoop from across from him made him start, and he looked up, turning pink as he saw that the trio at the other table were applauding him.
"All finished?" asked Angelica, making her way over to him and taking his now empty cup.
"Uh- yeah"
"Well done!" she grinned. "College sucks, huh?"
"Yeah." he stood and rubbed his eyes, shoving his laptop back into his bag and slinging it across his shoulders. As he made his way to the door, thankful that the rain had stopped, he waved, saying "Thanks for the coffee!" to Angelica, who waved back as he left. The French man from the other table called over to him.
"Au revoir, petit lion!"
Why had he never gone there before? Light hearted, Alex made his way down the street with a weight lifted from his shoulders. His assignment completed, and- he checked his watch- almost three more hours of sleep before the morning, as well as a new default writing location. What could be better?
About a block down, he heard the sound of running footsteps behind him, and a shout of "Monsieur!" before a hand on his shoulder made him turn around. In surprise, he saw that it was the man from the shop, panting slightly and holding Alex's coat in one hand.
"You left this at the shop, Monsieur."
"Oh, wow- thank you!" Alex said gratefully. "Thanks a million, Monsieur..." he trailed off, realizing he didn't know the man's name.
"Lafayette. And please, none of this 'Monsieur'." He grimaced slightly. "You Americans make it sound such an ugly word." Alexander chuckled at that- recognising the good humour behind the words.
"I'm actually quite fluent in French." he told Lafayette, who looked surprised, but not displeased.
"Vraiment? Avez-vous la famille en France?" Alex shook his head.
"Non, mais j'appris de ma mere. Et je dois admettre que ma prononciation est terrible." Lafayette laughed, holding out a hand for him to shake.
"Well, Au revoir, mon ami." said Alex, taking it. His fingers were freezing.
"Wait- you have not given me your own name!"
"Alexander Hamilton."
"It was lovely to meet you, Alexandre" the man said, warmly. "Perhaps I will see you at the Grind-Stone another time?"
"Oh, definitely"
"Well, until then. Adieu!"
As the man began to walk away, Alex remembered something.
"Wait a minute!" he called, and Lafayette turned around, raising his eyebrows.
"Oui?"
"Why did you call me a 'little lion' back at the shop?"
The other man looked surprised for a moment, but then chuckled and gave a sort of half-shrug.
"You were growling at your assignment, mon ami."
Without another word, he continued down the street, back to the coffee shop.
Alex stood for a moment, watching him leave. The rain was starting up again. He found that he didn't mind.
Two days later, as Saturday afternoon rolled around, Alex found himself back outside the Coffee Ground with his hopes high. He entered, finding it much busier than he'd expected, and was delighted to see Lafayette and the man he'd come in with before (friend? boyfriend? He made a mental note to ask) sitting by the counter and talking to the barista- a man this time, with a shock of metiulously groomed dark hair and a sour expression. It looked like they were arguing. Lafayette's face lit up as he spotted Alex, and he gestured for him to come over to their table. He did so, glancing nervously at the fuming barista.
"Piss off, Lee" the other man was saying, his broad shoulders tense in anger.
"How dar-" the barista began, glaring, but Lafayette cut him off.
"You heard him- on your way, vermisseau. We have someone pleasant to speak with now."
The barista stalked off and started wiping glasses, muttering under his breath.
"Alex! Herc, you remember Alex?" Lafayette asked, beaming, before grabbing Alex and kissing both his cheeks. He held him at arm's length, looking him up and down. "You are looking... not so much of a wreck as you were."
"Thanks" Alex laughed, then reached out his hand to the other man.
"Hercules Mulligan" he said gruffly, shaking it. He had a far softer handshake than Alex expected.
"Hercules? That's a-"
"An odd name, I know. Just 'Herc' would be appreciated, thank you."
"Oh, sure."
Alex looked across the bar, his eyes lingering curiously on the barista Herc had been talking to. He still looked distinctly irked.
"Charles Lee. He is... how you say? 'Le con...' Ah- an asshole." Lafayette wrinkled his nose in the man's direction when he saw Alex looking.
"What was he saying?"
"Oh, the usual." Herc muttered, taking a swig of his drink. "Being rascist, being homophobic, talking shit about one of the customers because he was wearing a flowery shirt, you name it. He keeps giving Laf a whole load of shit about his sexuality, too." He looked at Alex almost suspiciously, as if preparing to whack him one if he said something about it. Alex, however, didn't need to fake his disgust.
"Wow. Sounds like a dick."
"Oui. He is. All of this 'but do you not think yourself selfish, to want to sleep with two genders? What a slut!' " he said in a mock-whine, aparently immitating Lee. "I'm pansexual." he added, by way of explanation. Alex recognised the comments all too well. After a moment or two, he noticed that Lafayette was looking at him with an anxious expression, as if waiting for his approval. He gave it hastily.
"Oh, don't worry. I totally get it- I'm bi myself, so I hear that stuff a lot." The thrill of coming out to two near strangers hit him a few seconds later, but Lafayette beamed.
"Ah, magnifique! Then we will understand each other well!"
After a minute or so of further conversation, he stood up to order, pulling his wallet from a pocket. Preparing to interact with this 'Lee' character, he rapped his knuckles on the counter, squinting up at the list of prices as the man approached.
"What can I get for you?" he asked, and Alex was struck by how his similar his voice was to Lafayette's whining impression of him.
"I'll take a flat white, thank you."
"Size?"
"Grande."
"$2.50"
As the man retreated to make his drink, the bell that signalled the opening door sounded again. Alex didn't take much notice, but at Lafayette's shout of "Burr!" he looked around. The man who entered was dark-skinned and dark-clothed, with a beaten down expression on his face, but he managed a small smile in Lafayette's direction as he reached the bar. He placed an order for a triple espresso with Lee, before returning and standing, rather stiffly, Alex noticed, next to their table.
"Lafayette, you seem happy." he commented, after enclining his head to Hercules. The statement was carefully delivered, carrying no implications, and Alex's interest in the man was hightened immedietely. "Have you had a good week?"
"Oui, and thank you for asking, mon ami" Lafayette smiled at him. "I don't think you have met our new friend- Alexander Hamilton?" he gestured to Alex, who gave him a look of slight panic at the introduction. How many first impressions was he going to have to make today?
Burr shook his head, turning to Alexander with a curious expression.
"No, I haven't. But I do know of him."
"Wh-What?" Alex stuttered in shock. "How?"
"You've made quite a name for yourself at the college." Burr explained. He walked closer to where Alexander was standing, leaning on the bar. "I hear you're really quite something."
"Oh- well, I-"
"Is it true that you broke a professor's nose last week?" Burr's lips were quirked in a half-smile. It did not sound like a loaded question.
"Well, I- er- yes... But he deserved it!" Alex explained hastily, ignoring the intruiged look Lafayette was giving him as he muttered something to Hercules. "So, uh, do you go to the college?"
"I start on Monday actually. I've just moved here."
"Oh. What do you study?"
"Political Science, mainly. I'm taking music as a minor."
"Really? I'm in Polisci too." Alex told him.
"Your drinks, gentlemen." Lee slammed both their drinks down in front of them, and Burr took his and headed immediately for the door.
"Goodbye, you two. Perhaps I'll see you in class, Alexander."
"Perhaps. Goodbye!" Alex called after him, before making to return to the table with his drink. As he sat down, Lafayette seemed to cut himself off mid-sentence, but not before Alex had caught the words 'he is totally John's type, no?' Alex thought of enquiring after the comment, but realized that it would have sounded like eavesdropping.
"So. What do you think of the Ancien ours?" Lafayette asked him.
"Old bear?"
"Oui. He is so grizzly. Always down in the mud." Lafayette shook his head a little sadly, apparently mourning Burr's attitude.
"He seems nice enough"
"Oui- exactly. Enough" the frenchman pointed his spoon between Alexander's eyes, frowning. "I think he has no opinions of his own- or, at least, he is too shy to share them."
Mulling these words over, Alex took a sip of his drink. It wasn't nearly as nice as the one he'd had the last time, but he decided to blame that on Lee.
"Hey- uh- Angelica's really something, huh?" he said, remembering her scrutinising gaze and bright smile. "How do you know her?"
"We're regulars here, and she works a lot of shifts." Herc shrugged. "And yeah. She's certainly something."
"But don't get any ideas, Monsieur." Lafayette told him sternly. "She may be incredible but she is out of the league." He smirked slightly, giving Hercules a look out of the corner of his eye. "Our friend here found that out the hard way." Alex noticed that Hercules had gone red.
"Oh, shut up." he muttered. "But yeah, when you come in a coffee shop this often, you get to know the severs. For better or worse." he jerked his head in the direction of Lee. "Especially a few. There's Angelica, there's Madison- there's John, he's basically the third member of our trio. I think he's in the back somewhere- this is his shift, right Laf?"
"Oui."
"Wait, you mean he's here now?" Alex asked. If they were so close, why was he in the back?
"Oui, but he is avoiding us."
"Why?"
"We set him up on a bad blind date." Hercules grunted. "The guy ended up leaving and making him pay the whole bill"
"But he will come out soon. He cannot avoid us for the rest of time." Lafayette remerked confidently, peering over the bar again, as if expecting the guy to pop up at any second. "You should meet him, mon ami. I think you would get along."
A shout from the counter made him look around.
"Laurens! My shift's over so you're up. You can stop being pathetic- I thought you came out of the damn closet a while ago, fag! Come make up with your slut boyfriend-"
The last words made Alexander's blood run cold. That was out of line. He shoved himself away from the table, ready to break a few fingers at the asshole's expense, but his job was done for him before he reached him. A yell, a crack, and a thud as Lee hit the floor heralded the arrival of the second barista- the 'John' Lafayette had mentioned. He had vaulted over the counter.
"Fuck off, Lee" he spat, his hands still balled into fists.
Lee stood hurriedly, wiping blood on his sleeve and almost running from the shop, shooting a poisonous glance at John as he left. The eyes of many of the customers watched him, looking intruiged, taking in his bloody face and fury. Alex, however, couldn't seem to take his eyes off the barista.
He was a little taller than Alex (although, admitidly, that wasn't saying much) with a lean build and large hands. His skin was tanned and olive-toned, but scattered with more freckles than Alex had ever seen in his life, and his hair was a furious dark cloud behind him. Dark green eyes glared after Lee, huge, long-lashed and shining. His ears stuck out funny from his head, his nose was turned up slightly at the end and- oh god- was that a missing tooth? That was just unfair. The smooth tone of his face was made aparent as the rage slid slowly off his face, rounded cheeks flushed, and those freckles.
Damn.
He was really, really cute.
"John, you cannot go around punching anyone who does me wrong" Lafayette said, jolting Alex out of his thoughts.
"Yes I can."
"No, you cannot. You'll get aressted. And we're too broke to bail you out this time."
"See if I care. And you're not forgiven, by the way." John glared at him.
"Oh, come on, John." Hercules groaned. "We thought you'd like him!"
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that time I told you that sexist, transphobic, bigotted rascist assholes were totally my type." He started to head back towards the bar again, but Lafayette stood, reaching out for him.
"Wait, mon chéri! Please, we are sorry- you must believe us! Besides-" he grabbed Alex by the arm, pulling him towards him. "We have someone you must meet!"
John turned reluctantly back to him, eyeing Alex sceptically. Alex felt his heart beat faster at the eye contact, however unpleasant John's expression was.
"This had better not be another attempt at a set up." he frowned, folding his arms.
"Oh no, this is just a friend, I swear. He was here a few nights ago."
John looked him up and down, those gorgeous eyes flicking to his thread-bare sweater, and Alex found himself wishing he'd chosen something else to wear. The cutie himself was wearing a smart button-down under his apron, sleeves rolled up to the elbow to show forearms Alex was pretty sure should be illegal. Realizing he was staring at John's midriff, he hastily redirected his gaze to his face (like that was much better), feeling a blush creep up his neck. Oh shit, there were a few curls hanging in front of his face. What did he do deserve this? But then John smiled a little. He held out his hand.
"Hi. I'm John Laurens. I'm sorry about that- I've just had some bad experiences with this one here." He looked pointedly at Lafayette. Alex tried to make his face look normal.
"H-Hi. I'm Alex." Smooth. They shook hands, and John's hand was so damn soft- how could someone's handshake be that attractive? "You- uh- you know Lee well?"
What made him say that? Way to go Alex, let's just bring up that guy that just called him a faggot.
"Unfortunately."
There was silence for a few seconds, as Alex wished for nothing more than to sink into the ground. Then Hercules spoke up.
"Don't sweat, John. Alex is a good guy. He was about to take Lee out himself before you did it." John looked from Herc to Alex with surprise.
"Really?"
"Dude, he basically launched himself at the counter."
Alex tried to deny it- what if the guy thought he was crazy?
"N-no, I-"
"Do not be so modest, mon ami."
"Well, anyone ready to kick Lee's ass is a friend of mine." John smiled at him again- wider this time- and god- he had dimples. "I'd better get back there- looks like some chick's about to order. Maybe I'll catch you some other time?"
Too stunned to answer, Alex gave a shaky nod and watched as John retreated back behind the counter. He dropped into his chair at Lafayette's table. Herc was sniggering.
"Oh, mon ami. It looks like you have, as you say, got it bad."
*Thanks for reading !
French translations:
Vraiment? Avez-vous la famille en France?- Really? Do you have family in France?
Non, mais j'appris de ma mere. Et je dois admettre que ma prononciation est terrible.- No, but I learned from my mother. And I'll admit that my pronunciation is terrible.
The rest is pretty self-explanatory.*