Better Late Than.

This is a standalone story in two parts (famous last words) but regular readers may recognize a character or few!

Tess O-Meter Green. NB: Aydin is pronounced Aye-Dun.

-X

Connor O'Nally glowered at his business partner, who as always was being super cheerful. "Why do people bother applying for jobs if they're not going to fucking turn up for interview?"

Aydin Moran Flanagan relaxed back in his chair and mussed his shiny golden hair. Of course it fell perfectly back in place. Connor suspected witchcraft. With his perfect hair, perfect stubble, eyes like blue lakes, and tall slender body. Aydin looked like Thor's younger svelte brother.

Then he spoke, with the Irish so thick, Connor half expected the air to turn green. "Sure, but there's no knowing what might have befallen the lad. His references were a wonder. We can re-advertise tomorrow if he hasn't been in touch."

"I need reliability," Connor growled. Yanking in frustration at his own unruly mop. As his Irish granny used to say, 'Looked like he had been pulled through a hedge backwards,' and in his opinion the dull boring colour of peat.

His stubborn jaw, that always looked like he had forgotten to shave, whereas Aydin just looked cool. The boring six-foot-one, that wasn't quite tall enough to be imposing. His accent, uptown New York.

Uptown, as in Washington Heights, before clever creative brains made it hip.

Still, his eyes were green and dark. Right now, shooting emerald flames. "No. Sorry, Aydin, but no. He's over an hour late, that's no good to me."

Aydin shrugged and relented. They were business partners, but Connor had the ruling share, and Aydin was still learning the management side of things. He would defer to experience.

Just then the door banged open and a kid half fell in. Large chocolate eyes blinked up at them, as he pushed his dark bangs back and found his feet. He seemed slightly dazed.

"Gotta be over twenty-one to come in here, kid," Connor told him, and turned away to ready the bar.

"I am. I mean," Connor turned back to look again and realized it wasn't a kid, but a young man. Flushed and breathless, his gaze darting between Aydin and Connor. "Mr O'Nally? Mr Flanagan?"

"Are you Luc?" Aydin asked, and sat up when the response was a nod. "We expected you at ten."

"I know, I'm so sorry. My phone is at home and I had a thing, and the subway," he paused to take a shaky breath and Connor interrupted.

"A thing?"

"Yes, my-"

"I thought you lived four blocks away?"

"I do, but-"

"You can't walk four blocks?"

"I can, of course, but-"

"Forget it."

Luc just stood in the doorway, a crestfallen expression on his face.

"You could let the man speak, Con?"

"I don't care," Connor declared rudely and turned again towards the bar.

He heard Luc's barely audible, "I'm sorry, so sorry." And then Aydin's voice caused him to turn again, in time to see Aydin catch the staggering boy. (I mean, if he was twenty-one, it was only just.)

"I've got you. I've got you, lad. Lean on me. Here we go."

Connor refrained from rolling his eyes as Aydin helped Luc onto his vacated chair and knelt in front of him. Luc lifted a shaking hand and wiped his eyes, his head down. Connor sighed quietly.

"What was that about the subway?" Aydin asked, shooting Connor a look.

"The train was stopped for ages, and I didn't have my phone. I'm sorry."

"Why were you even on the subway? Where were you coming from?" Connor asked impatiently as he handed over some tissue that Aydin had waved for.

Luc blew his nose, "I was at Mount Sinai. My grandfather." He stopped and buried his face for a moment, taking deep breaths. "I'm sorry, so sorry," he mumbled again.

Even Connor was concerned now. Aydin rubbed Luc's knee and questioned him gently. Pulling out the story that his grandfather had collapsed that morning. Luc had done CPR until the EMT's arrived, and his grandfather was, right now, in surgery having a stent put in.

Connor went into the bar and busied himself at the machine. Coming back with a steaming mug as Aydin and Luc broke up a hug.

"Better?" Aydin asked him. "Hugs always help."

Luc managed a wobbly smile. "Thanks. I needed it, that's for sure." He broke off and watched Connor warily as he crouched down. Looking surprised when Connor gentled his voice and touched his shoulder.

"Drink this."

Luc took the mug and cradled it in both hands. Still watching Connor nervously as he took a sip. "Oh, Shit!" he coughed and winced.

Connor grinned and Luc blinked at him. "It's tea. And a dash of brandy. Good stuff. Sip it slowly."

"A dash?" Luc questioned, but bravely took another sip.

Aydin used Connor's arm to push himself up. "I'll go get the car. About twenty minutes?"

"No problem," Connor nodded. "You going to run past Luc's place to grab his phone first?"

"Yea, I'll be as quick as I can."

"It's fine. I called Dave, he's coming in early." He frowned at Luc. "You need to drink that. It won't do you any good in the mug."

Aydin winked at Luc and left. Luc sipped again before asking. "What's he doing?"

"He's gone for his car. You can run by and grab your phone and then he'll take you back to the hospital."

"Oh. But I can get a cab."

Connor leaned in, crowding Luc slightly. "That's not how we treat our staff. Well, potential staff. Make sure you have Aydin's number. He'll contact you in a few days."

"But?" Luc took another sip at Connor's dark look, but then admitted. "I should have borrowed a phone and called you and explained. I'm an idiot."

"I don't think so," Connor reassured him. "What you are, is in shock."

He busied himself in the kitchen, keeping an eye, while a subdued Luc sipped his doctored tea, until Aydin arrived back with the car. Helping Luc, who found himself a little unsteady when he tried to stand.

"A dash, really?" Aydin queried with a grin. His arm around Luc's waist as he helped him down the step.

"Might have been more like a glug," Connor admitted with a smirk. "It's good for shock. Hey, kid!"

Luc turned, dark eyes huge in his face. "Yes?"

Connor leaned on the doorframe. "Remember what you did today. You saved a life. Not just any life, but your own grandfather. Whatever happens. Whether you've brought him hours, or years, he knows that and he'll hold it close to his heart for the rest of his life."

Luc's lips trembled as tears ran down his cheeks, and he only managed a grateful nod.

Aydin, unashamed of his own damp cheeks, eased Luc into the car and then darted back to grip Connor's face and plant a smacker-kiss on his lips. "You're the best, Con." Then with a sunny smile he hurried to the car.

"Urrgggghh!" Connor complained, dragging his hand across his mouth. But he was smiling as he kicked the door closed and wiped his own eyes before going back to the bar.

-X

Aydin arrived back early evening. The bar was hopping as it was a live band night.

"Welcome to Betters, what can I be getting you?" he asked the impatient man who was half hanging over the bar.

"The draft. The special offer, if it's not too much trouble," the man grunted. "I've been waiting over five minutes."

Aydin slid a bottle that Connor gestured for, down the bar, even as he started to fill a glass.

"Ah, but it's worth the waiting when it comes with me," he said with a saucy wink and charmed a reluctant smile from the customer. "Are you here for the band?"

"Yes, my brother's the bass."

"In that case this is on the house and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. It'll quiet down later and you can come and buy another. Plus one for me, and I won't keep you waiting so long."

The man let his eyes roam up and down as he took a slow sip. "Thanks very much. I'll do that."

Aydin just smiled as the man wandered back to a small group near the band, sending a glance or two back.

"How do you just walk right in and score?" Dave asked, as he leaned over for ice.

"Talent," Aydin claimed, moving to the next customer. A regular who was laughing at their antics.

"He's a flirt," Connor corrected, as he took a payment. "How's the kid's grandfather doing?"

"Good. He's doing well so far. We'll talk later." Aydin handed the regular his drink. "On your tab?"

The older man nodded. "I forgot my wallet, but Con said I can settle tomorrow. What happened?"

Aydin slipped the receipt into Connor's back pocket as he passed, knowing that's where he would be keeping the tab.

Gently, as he was known, was an ex-boxer who at nearly eighty years old, still towered over them all at seven foot. His face and knuckles were scarred and ferocious, and he was the sweetest man Aydin had ever known.

"A new barman we're hoping to hire. He had to do CPR on his own grandfather this morning, just has he was leaving for his interview. Nearly twenty minutes until the EMT's arrived."

"That's a hard thing. And the grandfather is doing well? That's good," he cleared his throat. "That's good," he said again before sipping his drink.

"Ah, Gently." Aydin leaned on the bar, his chin on his hand. "Why aren't you fifty years younger?"

Gently caught Aydin's hand and gave it a swing. "I'd still be too old for you," he claimed, before releasing Aydin to help with the backed up customers and turning back to the band. A shy, pleased smile on his face.

Later on, when the rush was done and everyone had taken a break and eaten. Aydin filled Connor, Dave, and Gently (who always like to know what was going on, and wouldn't leave until they locked the doors) in on what had happened at the hospital.

He had taken Luc back to his family and met his grandmother, sister and brother. Plus the brother's family.

"You were right, Con. He was in shock. Barely knew which way was up by the time we got back. His sister wanted him checked over, but Nana said he just needed to sleep it off."

"Nana?"

"She told me to call her Nana," Aydin shrugged. "She said Luc was extraordinary with the CPR. Said he wouldn't stop. She even told him to stop, she thought her husband was gone, but he wouldn't stop. She's pretty amazing herself."

"But her husband is okay?"

"I saw him briefly when I said goodbye. He looked tired, but lucid. The doctors seemed very happy with him."

"Well, good." Connor sighed. "Your date's coming back."

Aydin straightened as the man approached the bar, glass in hand. "Another?" he asked handing the glass to Aydin. "And whatever you're having?"

Aydin slipped the glass into the empties tray and flicked a glance at Connor.

"Go head," Connor waved a hand. "Dave and I can finish up."

"In that case I'll join you," Aydin filled two glasses, took the payment and then gave Dave and Gently a light kiss before walking around to the front of the bar. Laughing at Connor who had stepped back and warned, "Keep your bloody lips to yourself!"

The band had finished now, and the bar was slowly emptying.

Connor started to clean up and let Dave deal with the occasional customer, he was mostly standing and chatting with Gently.

Gently had lost his life-partner the year before, and had found it incredibly hard to adjust.

Betters was his second home, and Connor considered him more than welcome. The man was full of fascinating stories and more than once had been mentioned in write ups and reviews of the bar.

He stood for a moment and gazed at the room.

Full of conversation and laughter. He had wanted to create a space where people could be safe. Then he has nearly lost it, which made it all the more precious to him.

His gaze landed to where Aydin had his hand buried in the thick hair of his hook up. As they indulged in, what Dave insisted on calling, tonsil hockey.

He smirked and hefted a tray to take back. He had already cornered the bass player earlier in the evening, and had reassured himself that Aydin's hook up was harmless.

For sure he would get more detail than he wanted, or needed, in the morning!

-X

Three weeks later Connor jumped when the back door opened after a smart rap-rapping and Luc breezed in.

A very different Luc to the one he had met previously.

They hadn't actually interviewed in the end. Luc's references were golden and Connor had spoken with his current boss the morning after Luc's grandfather was taken ill. Just in case he forgot to update them.

They had thanked him and said they would text Luc and tell him to take a couple of days. Advising that he was their most reliable bar tender, and they would miss him, but he wanted to be closer to home due to travel time and to be more available to his grandparents.

Aydin had called Luc a few days after that and basically asked him why he wanted the job at Better Late Than.

Luc had confirmed the issue with travel time and costs, but also said that Betters had such a great reputation and he felt he might be more at home working in a gay bar, than at his current job which he was perhaps 'a little too rainbow-fied for!'

Aydin had advised him that they didn't hold with their staff using the bar as a pick up joint, which had made Connor literally choke with laughter and have to leave the room, from where he had been eavesdropping.

Despite the cheek of that, Aydin had figured that Luc wasn't going to earn them a reputation, and then they sent Dave to spy on him in his current job. He came back with a glowing report, so their numbers grew.

By two, as Connor had hired from the first round of interviews, but he wasn't holding out much hope there. The man who had been able to start immediately was super slow and a bit dim.

He had interviewed as a favour to his cousin, and was already regretting it.

There was certainly nothing dim about Luc as he bounced through the door, all smiles and enthusiasm.

"Morning, Mr O'Nally. Aydin said to come on round the back when I got here."

"Did he tell you to call me Mr O'Nally?" Connor queried on a growl.

Luc nodded.

"He's a git. Call me Con. Did he tell you we would be starting with basics?"

Luc nodded again and came fully in. "Yea. I mean I've worked bar for three years, but he said you have your own way here and would start at the beginning."

"That's okay with you?"

"Of course."

"So you're twenty-four."

"Yep. What about you?"

"Sorry?" Connor raised an eyebrow, impressed at Luc's unrepented grin, but holding the glare.

"I just wondered how old you are?" Luc admitted with an innocent smile.

"None of your business."

"Okay," Luc shrugged.

"Jesus, thirty-two," Connor told him.

Luc's expression changed slightly, to one of respect. "That's young to have a place like this. You must work hard, I think we'll get on fine."

"Thank God, I can't tell you how worried I was!"

Luc snorted out a laugh and Connor couldn't help but grin back. "How's your grandpa doing?"

"Really good," Luc beamed. "I swear he's fitter than he was before. He's doing great."

"I'm pleased to hear it." His smiled turned wicked as he handed over some rubber gloves. "First lesson. Hygiene."

"Yay," Luc quipped, but was still smiling as he pulled the gloves on.

-X

He proved a fast learner. Or more to the point, there wasn't much Connor could teach him.

The lunch and afternoon coffee and cake brigade was new to him, but he squared up to the temperamental cappuccino machine and won the war. Which was more than Connor had ever done, they remained embattled, daily.

Luc claimed being able to swear at the machine in Italian gave him the advantage.

They served paninis, fries, and cakes along with the tea and coffee between midday and 5pm.

As a final test, Connor pulled Gently in to be a pain in the ass customer one afternoon, and give Luc a hard time. Try to fluster him.

Connor dealt with the regular parent and baby group that met once a week, and when Gently stalked in, his face set and moody, he threw Luc to the lions.

"You can handle one customer, right?"

Luc swallowed as the man-mountain slumped onto a bar stool. "Sure, yep. No problem."

"Good," Connor decided and went to sit with the LBGTQ+ parenting group who were watching, but pretending not to.

They sat, whispered, and hid giggles as Gently demanded coffee be re-made, his fries were cold, the ketchup wasn't tomato-y enough, and then stand to his intimating seven-foot, over Luc's slender five-five when Luc very politely advised him that he was happy to re-make the food, but if he threatened to come over the bar again, he would be asked to leave.

The whole room held their breath for a humming ten seconds, before Gently burst out laughing.

Luc looked startled, and even more so when the parenting group gave him a round of applause.

He frowned at Connor when he returned to the bar. "You set me up!" It wasn't a question.

"Luc, this is Gently. He's a fixture around here. Gently, I've told you about Luc. I guess he'll be on his first shift start of next week."

"Welcome to Betters," Gently said, leaning over again to shake Luc's hand. "I'm Wayne Harris, but everyone calls me Gently."

"Luciano Giotto, but everyone calls me Luc," his eyes narrowed. "Wait. Did you used to box?"

"Long time ago, I wasn't born looking like this," Gently chuckled.

"I think you know my grandfather," Luc stated. Ten minutes later, they were firm friends.

-X

Luc moved back to the kitchen when the regular staff appeared, for a cocktail mixing session with Aydin.

They had cocktail and karaoke nights and their own cocktail menu, and the two men chatted as they practised. Connor overhearing the occasional snippet as he moved back and forth.

It wasn't a busy night out front, but he swore to God the new guy, Colin, was creating more work than the customers.

"So you're Irish, but is Aydin an Irish name?" he heard Luc ask, and rolled his eyes, as he knew this story would take the best part of an hour.

Backtracking quickly as Aydin started, "Ah, but it's a story to be sure. Of a dark and stormy night on the east coast of Ireland some generations ago..."

Smiling despite himself, he could almost word for word tell the tale of how Aydin's great, great (maybe another great or two?) Russian grandfather was washed up, mostly drowned on the shores of the family farm, after the storm of the century and the loss of the ship with all hands.

And how his great+ granny had tended him and they had fallen in love to raise baby livestock and baby humans and live happily ever after.

Just under an hour later he went back for some snacks and heard. "So, is he seeing anyone. Any special man in his life?" Slowing his steps and wondering who had caught Luc's eye already.

"Ah, well." Aydin sounded awkward, which was very unlike him. "He's a handsome man to be sure, but he's not one for mixing business with pleasure."

"He's gorgeous," Luc breathed, but then. "Oh my God, are you and he?" quickly drowned out by Aydin's hysterical laughter.

"Me and Con, ahh. No. No. He's a good friend, and a good boss, but no, we've never gone there."

Connor felt his face flush as he lurked in the shadows. That blindingly beautiful boy was interested in him?

"He's been riding you quite hard," Aydin pointed out, before laughing at whatever expression had crossed Luc's face. "Behave. I mean, is he not a little grumpy?"

"I figured he just had something on his mind," Luc admitted.

"Hmmm, well go careful," Aydin warned. "I'm not going to gossip, so I'll leave it at that."

Connor slipped back to the bar, his face flushing. Yea, he had been short with Luc, and he did have something on his mind, which Aydin knew full well.

Namely that Luc's strong, slender body, large expressionate eyes, and youthful looks were exactly what Connor longed for.

And exactly what he intended to resist.

He wasn't ever letting down his guard again. Not ever.

-X

Luc's first night wasn't going to plan, when Connor had received a begging call from Luc's previous job, pleading to keep him to 9pm for one more night, and promising to send him over in a cab and cover his first week's wages.