mad as rabbits - {kit}

[SEATTLE ALEXANDER SPALDING]

if there was one thing that seattle absolutely hated about his job, it was the rude customers. ones who kept saying he got their order wrong and demanded free coffee, or ones that saw his name tag and giggled when they thought he couldn't hear him. he could hear them from behind the counter when he washed out the containers that held different ingredients. he listened to their snarky comments, like, "what kind of name is seattle?" or "his parents must have been high or something."

he contemplated telling them to leave, to never come back unless they wanted their faces beat in. seattle had given two customers their drinks, and turned to leave, only to hear in a hushed whisper, "who the fuck names their kid seattle?" the other customer didn't answer, but seattle stopped, turning his head slightly as his fingers closed into tight fists. enough was enough. he turned around, his light brown eyes flaring with anger. "if you have a problem with me, say it to my face, you ignorant fuck." he growled, not taking his eyes off of the astonished face that stared back at him. a few moments later, after staring down at the other man, he turned, going back behind the counter and sighing, running a hand through his hair. today was going to be a long day.

and it wasn't even ten o' clock.

[elvis joseph hamleton]

elvis had been going through a lot lately. first life had decided to hand him a boyfriend. one of the most amazing, beautiful, just all around wonderful human beings that he had ever met in his life. and sure, they couldn't tell teddy's parents. and sure, they couldn't be one hundred percent completely open about what they were to each other. but he had teddy. and fuck if he hadn't fallen into some kind of love with that roommate of his in the past months of knowing him. and then, like god just wanted to rip all the good from his life, teddy had to go to spain. elvis would never be able to understand why this happened. why he would be given someone so amazing just to have him taken away, but it had.

and somehow, it wasn't getting any easier. he would stay up until stupid hours to be able to talk to teddy on skype. thanks to the instructions that teddy left for him he was able to do that. and even if he talked to him every day. at some point, it just became bitter sweet. because he couldn't kiss him. he couldn't lay beside him. he couldn't hold him, or really be with him. all that there was for elvis was half of the room empty and shelves bare where there should've been teddy's kid pictures. and everything just felt wrong. so, elvis did the only logical thing. he had been drinking more, eating less, and just generally fucking off. sure, it wasn't the life he knew that teddy would want him to lead, but he was heartbroken in a way that couldn't really heal.

and that morning when his alarm had gone off he had realized one very important thing, he was tired, and he needed coffee, but since teddy had left he hadn't been able to get himself to use the god damn coffee pot. so it was off to starbucks, because really, he needed some caffeine in his system and he needed it fast before he fall over from caffeine deprivation. with a sort of soft smile on his lips he made his way towards the counter ordering a caramel latte, and that's when his eyes landed on the boy that would be making his drink and a sort of boyish grin too over his lips.

now, it wasn't that he didn't love teddy, and it wasn't that he didn't wish he would come home every day, but, they'd come to the conclusion that they were taking some kind of break while teddy was away. and elvis hadn't even tried anything with anyone. there was something about this boy, though, that called for attention. so he leaned on the counter, his eyes keeping well and focused. "mornin' sunshine. now imma littol curious. 'ow is it tha' i've never seen yew before?" which really was, the question of the hour.

[SEATTLE ALEXANDER SPALDING]

honestly, seattle would rather people make fun of his name than his sexuality. ever since finding out that he was gay at ten years old, he's never told a soul. he couldn't tell his friends that he's made; he never got to know them well enough. that was one reason he hated his father. they never settled in one place for very long. it was always at least one year, then moving again. sea had been to over ten schools in his life time, and then, when he graduated at his tenth school, his father had to go and say, "let's settle down in new jersey! no more moving whatsoever." yeah. thanks a lot, bastard. and then, there was his mother..

seattle didn't like talking about his mom. his mother was the only one he could go to without feeing scared or fearing that she would judge him. she was a compassionate women, and he looked up to her. when sea turned sixteen, his mother's health started to deteriorate. his father, being the cheap asshole that he was, didn't want to spend the money to bring her to the hospital. seattle contemplated bringing her himself, but knew that would only lead to more trouble. a few months later, her hair began falling out, and her skin became pasty and pale. that was what got his father to bring her. they diagnosed her with breast cancer. it was too late to start treatment.

they kept her in the hospital for a long, long time. seattle was the one to visit her most, keeping her company and telling her that it would be okay. he would hold her hand and tell her what was going on in his life. a few weeks before she died, he finally had the courage to tell her his deepest secret. he remembered that moment clear as day.

he took his mother's hand, and she looked at him, giving him a small smile. "hey, see-see. what's going on?" her appearance made seattle want to cry. she was hooked up to every kind of machine imaginable, and she looked twice as old as she really was. it made him sick to see his only friend like this. his mother. "hey, mom." he replied, stroking her hand with his thumb. "i have something to tell you. i've wanted to say it for.. a really long time, but i was afraid of what you would think." his mother gazed at him, then smiled, like she knew something he didn't. what she said next shocked him. "i know you're gay, see-see. i've known for a long time. mother's instinct, i suppose. you didn't have to be afraid to tell me, seattle. it's your choice, and i'm proud of you." seattle just stared at her in shock, unable to say anything. he just pulled her close to him, tears pouring from his eyes.

he didn't even notice the customer in front of him as he stood there, thinking of the last time he saw her alive. he put his hat back on, and he looked up, jumping slightly when he saw the attractive man leaned up on the counter, talking to him in a cockney british accent. he blinked, only to grin and chuckle as he rubbed his arm shyly. "i just started this job a week ago, so maybe that's it." he replied, still grinning like a little school girl. "what can i get you?" he asked, moving to stand behind the register. god this guy was hot. he bit his lip to keep from making any other noises that he made around cute guys, but kept his eyes on the other's hazel ones. good fucking god.

[elvis joseph hamleton]

it was strange for elvis trying to get back to some scale of normal without teddy around. he missed his boy, happily drank himself into a deep rest every night. this was not a way to live, though, and part of him knew it. but another part of him simply didn't care. not that elvis had ever been the sort to put too much deep thought into anything because lets face it, he was not the sort that dealt with his problems well. and if it weren't for the hope that teddy would be home soon he probably would've moved again. elvis had no coping skills, he had no way to deal with things, at least no healthy way. and maybe he was just barely skidding through life, he couldn't be sure. it was easier to take it on the day to day.

and that day, right then, he was going to flirt with this cute coffee boy. because, he knew better than any those little signs that told you when someone was interested, especially men. and that smile that took over the other man's lips was enough to tell him everything that he needed to know. this boy was interested. and elvis knew somewhere in him that he should just let it be, that he should just stay in his dorm missing teddy as if he were some sort of army wife, but he just couldn't. the man couldn't bring himself to do that. not right then, no matter how much he loved teddy. a boy would at least be a distraction to keep himself from getting alcohol poisoning. and really, no one wanted that. he had enough imaginary problems in his head that he didn't need to make any actual ones. even if it would be a nice change for the er to see him having an actual problem.

an easy sort of lopsided grin took over his features as he watched the boy and the way that he sunk his teeth into his bottom lip was just too much for words to describe. "i'll 'ava caramel latte please," he answered simply with a bat of his eyelashes. "and if ya don't mind, yer numba would be nice too." because really more times than not, elvis was too forward for his own good. not that it was something that could be helped nor was it something that he was going to change about himself anytime soon. if it ain't broke and all of that what have you.

the question that began to run through elvis' mind then, though, was where exactly did this boy, this, seattle he read on the name tag, stand with his own sexuality. elvis knew the signs far too well to think that he might be straight, but there were some people who were still not so comfortable with whatever feelings might be inspired by them coming from a person of the same sex. all that elvis could hope, was that this boy would at least not have a problem with just letting elvis flirt shamelessly with him. and perhaps, flirt back. so he tagged on, "'cuz if i'm to be perfectly 'onest 'ere, imma let yew know tha' i am more than a littol interested in knowing yew other than jussta pretty boy 'oo made me a latte."

[SEATTLE ALEXANDER SPALDING]

a blush had formed over seattle's features as he let his eyes quickly scan the other guy's body. he wasn't bad looking in the least, but something told seattle that the guy had been going through something big. he could see it in the other's eyes. he averted his gaze and smiled to himself, letting his fingers fiddle with the strings on his apron. he hated his uniform; it made him look stupid. he wished he could be wearing his suit vest and peacoat right now. the apron felt constricting against his figure and he wanted to just rip everything off right then and there. but that would get him fired.

what an adorable grin! that made seattle grin again, and his blush grew deeper as he let his fingers lightly tap the marble counter. he hated being so shy in front of other guys. he was completely easy-going in front of girls, but guys like this, well.. he was like a silly school girl with a crush on the quarterback of the football team. and that accent; it was strange, but oddly sexy at the same time. seattle liked it. and those lips, when they moved... all he could think of was his against them. he imagined they would feel warm, and taste like heaven. he caught himself staring, and then blinked, biting his lip again before typing in the order. "sure thing. that'll be-" he stopped when he heard the next thing he said. the blush returned, and he looked up from the register, then chuckled, nodding his head before finishing typing in the order. "that'll be $3.50." he replied.

he fingered the sharpie that hung from his apron and smiled to himself once more. he didn't mind that the other male was being too forward; in fact, it was nice in most situations. he was an impatient person, and he hated to wait for someone to say something that only took two seconds to say. after recieving the payment, his caramel eyes met the other's, and he gave a heartbreaking smile. "can i get your name?" he asked, getting the things ready to make the caramel latte. the sharpie still hung from his apron, waiting to be used. he started making the drink, still waiting for a reply to come from those lucious looking lips.

[elvis joseph hamleton]

this boy was positively adorable, that was all that there was to it. not in the same way that elvis had found teddy adorable, but there was some sort of likeness to the way that they fumbled with things when they got nervous. there was a sweetness to this man that he didn't see very often anymore. and it intrigued him. it really did interest him more than he could put words to. elvis himself, he was brash, and he was in your face, and he didn't hold back. but boys like seattle, and teddy for that matter, who were a bit more reserved in their ways of things, it caused a spark of interest in elvis that he'd never been able to rightly put words to. maybe it was just because it was adorable, and maybe it was because seattle looked a little like a puppy when his eyes got all soft. and it was quite possibly one of the cutest things ever.

a light chuckle came from him as he watched the blush move into the other boy's cheeks and he knew that he was going the right direction with this. he could so easily flirt with this boy, give him a smile. move his fingers through his hair and lean into the boy a bit more, taking sure to slide his fingers over seattle's when he handed him the money for his drink. "'ere ya go," he spoke his tones all sort of soft and maybe said a bit hushed if only because his focus was more on making sure that he made as much contact with their hands as possible while transferring the cash from one to the other. those little touches, he had long since learned had a way of making a lasting impression on someone. sticking with them even when a name wouldn't.

those hazel eyes of his watched the other boy closely as he went over to start making the drink. "my name is elvis," he answered simply. and it was the look on his face that let him know that he was serious. it wasn't some kind of joke or trying to pick fun at seattle's own strange name. then again, those who knew elvis well knew that his real first name was christopher, but fuck if he would answer to that. except when it came to teddy's parents. and the thought of that brought his mind back to teddy for a moment before he shook his head lightly as if to get him to focus. if he thought too much about teddy right then, he'd probably just go home and start drinking early that day. really early. and he was trying to not be drunk by the time that teddy called later in the day because he knew that his boy was tired of talking to him when he was drunk.

"don't forget the number," he reminded him, a sly smile taking over his lips as eyes landed on the boy's face again fully. "i dunno if anyone 'as ever told yew this, but yew are incredibly beautiful," he complimented with an air of ease about him. and beautiful really was the only way to describe the boy in front of him.

[SEATTLE ALEXANDER SPALDING]

if that touch that the other had so subtly given him could make him go over the edge as he felt he was going to, he wanted to know what else could. right now he wished he could jump over this counter and tackle the younger man to the ground. but that could never happen. as much as he wanted it to. his eyes never left the other's as he put the money in the register, and he began to make the others drink. lattes, to seattle, were the easiest to make. and right now, he thought, was the best time he'd ever maken one. he smiled to himself as he expertly began mixing the ingredients. he paused when he heard the other introduce himself.

elvis?

it was an odd name, to say the least. but he couldn't judge. his name was seattle. why couldn't his parents have named him dallas, or austin? or even chicago! but elvis was unique, and he liked it. he looked up at elvis and smiled, nodding his head. "pleasure to meet you, elvis." he replied, only to add on, "my name's seattle; but you probably knew that already." his blush returned and he finished making the drink. he eagerly took the sharpie from his apron and wrote elvis' name on it in neat cursive, along with his number under it. he brought the drink over and handed it to him, smiling happily as he leaned over, using his elbows to prop himself up.

what elvis said next though, made seattle smile another one of those heartbreaking smiles, and the blush deepened on his cheeks. "you're not so bad looking yourself." his eyes roamed slowly, teasingly over the others figure as he spoke. he glanced at the clock, and then smiled wider, seeing that it was almost his break. "i have a break now, if you'd like to go sit down and chat?" he offered, quirking one of his brows.

[elvis joseph hamleton]

elvis had always been amazed by how people's reactions to little touches like the one that he'd just given to seattle could tell about a person. and when his eyes stayed trained on the other boy's dark caramel orbs he could see one thing. this boy, wanted just as much to do with him and elvis wanted. it was a two way street being formed here and for the first time in a long time the brit was happy that he had woken up early enough in the morning to be some part of the living. he wasn't teddy, he would never be teddy, but fuck if he wasn't someone that the boy really did want to get to know. because he was cute, and he blushed, and he was more than happy with having his hand touched by his own fingers. he was a sweet boy, and elvis was curious as to just how sweet he was. or maybe he was just curious as to how sweet his skin would taste under his tongue.

elvis watched as he made his drink, and there was a part of him that was tempted to get behind the counter so that he could touch the boy more than he had before. maybe graze his hip with his hand, or something to that effect. either way, he was happy to be standing there. that lopsided mouth of his spread into more of a grin at his words. "pleasure'sall mine," he damn near purred letting his eyes get a bit more lusty if only for a moment. and wasn't it just his pleasure? because seattle was just a delicious sort of boy. even when he was wearing that apron that did nothing for him. elvis did his own leaning on the counter and wrapping his fingers around the cup bringing it to his lips for a taste. "mmmm, delicious," he let out before giving him those lusty eyes again.

the limey straightened so that he was standing again with his cup in hand and taking another drink from it. a brow arched to his hairline and a curious expression took over his features for a moment before a wide grin took over his lips. "well thank ya very much," he spoke, relishing in the way that he looked over his body. now that, that was the kind of reaction that he liked. the one where he knew that he was getting checked out, and the person who's eyes were scanning over him was more than pleased with what he was seeing. those hazel eyes of his twinkled for a moment giving him a toothy grin. "i would luv to. jus' lead tha way," he said before motioning for him to pick a table for them to sit at. "unless you would like ta go somewhere else"