Archive of Our Own

It was New Year's Eve, one of the busiest times the bar has ever seen. Drunk girls harassing everyone, drunk guys trying to fight each other, people ordering way too complicated drinks, and having sex in the bathroom. After Evie caught the same couple in there for the fourth time that night, she locked off the bathroom. New Year's Eve was most definitely NOT Ben's favorite holiday.

Ben and Evie were behind the bar making drinks while Audrey and Sam dealt with the customers on the floor. Ben was currently in a very deep conversation with a secretary lady that came in almost every night. She was very clearly drunk. "No, like I'm saying this lady called him and asked for John. I don't even know a John so I asked her, 'whO's JOhn?' and she told me 'The MAn yOu'rE slEepinG With.' Then she called me all sorts of names but like, who's John??"

Ben was just nodding as he made drinks for the other patrons, making faces every now and then to show he was listening. "Man, I don't know, what's your boss's name again?" Ben asked, deadpan. "Oh iT's uuUUhh OH Joohhnathenn." She slurred her words, making heart eyes at the name as Ben's eyes widened. "And who did that lady say she was?" The lady looked confused. "Uh, I'm nOt shhUUree.... uh OOH ShE saId WiFe.. his Wife, yeeahahh."

She laid her head on the bar and used the tip of her finger to play with the rim of her glass. "HEEyyy, can I gEt another One oF thEse?" Ben took the glass and shook his head, still wrapping it around the story he just heard. "Nope, I'm cutting you off. This was your fifth and you're hammered. I'll call your boyfriend." The girl groaned but grabbed her thing staggering towards the door.

"cOMe ooonnn, Maann... it's New YeAr's EvvEEeee!" Ben smiled, phone in hand. "He'll be here in five minutes, Steph. See you next week." Ben hung up the phone and continued taking orders. After she walked out of the bar three more people walked in. It stayed like that all night. Currently, it was 7 pm and the night was far from over. Ben walked over to Evie, sighing dramatically.

"Awe, what's wrong big boy?" Ben shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know, I just want this party to be perfect. You know he doesn't celebrate his birthday, and I don't wanna fuck this up!" He was all sorts of anxious. He even messed up a few drinks, leaving a few people pretty pissed.

He and Aiden had officially gotten together a few weeks ago. Ben asked him out after they had the best sex of their life. Ben found it pretty romantic. Now Aiden's birthday is tomorrow, New Year's Day. It had to be special. "Call him," Evie said like the answer was obvious. Ben looked at her like she grew twelve heads.

"Don't look at me like that. I meant to call him like, ask him to come to the bar to settle your anxiety. Maybe he can help serve. We need all the help we can get." Evie had a point, the bar was slam-packed. He had already asked Kai to help, but Kai could only stay for so long.

He will call Aiden and get him to help with the bar. It'd be nice to have his company. "Fine. Can you run things while I call him?" Evie gave him a thumbs up as he went to the back to call his boyfriend.

"Hey Ben, what's up?"

"Hey! I need a favor from you."

"Uuh depends, whatcha need?"

"Can you come up to the bar and help us? It's slam-packed and we need more hands."

"Sure, give me like 10 minutes."

After that, Ben hung up the phone. Anxiety is still present, but maybe when Aiden gets here he'll feel a little better. As Ben entered the bar, he saw two guys in a full-blown fistfight. Evie and Sam were doing their best to break them up. It was going to be a LONG night.

15 minutes pass and Aiden hasn't shown up yet. Evie can tell Ben was freaking out. "Calm down man, he'll be here any minute." As if her words were magic, in walks that mop of ginger. Ben's heart swooned. Aiden had a grimace on his face from the size of the crowd inhabiting the bar.

He walked up to the bar, pushing past a few very drunk patrons. "God, you weren't kidding, I couldn't find any parking. I had to park like two miles away." He walked behind the bar, putting on an apron. "Oh yeah, I completely forgot about parking, I'm sorry!" Aiden shakes his head. "It's no biggie, where do ya need me?"

Ben had a lost look on his face as he looked around the bar. "Uh, Evie?" She exhaled with a smile on her face. "Where would you be without me?" She pulled a notebook from her apron. "Probably one of these lowlifes," Ben answered playfully. "Okay, table three needs a refill, the gentleman at the bar with the 'Dahmer glasses' needs a glass of 'our most expensive wine,' aaand I've got four tables who haven't given me an order yet." Ben nods, "I'll work on those orders." Aiden finished tying his apron, "I'll get the refill." Both men leave for their respective duties. "I guess that leaves me with Dahmer.."

The bar had started to slow down around ten-ish since they closed at eleven. Audrey and Evie were cleaning unused tables as Ben cleaned the bar. Aiden and Sam had left for a smoke break. "Man, I hate New Year's," Sam spoke as Aiden took a drag of his cigarette, "Couldn't relate more, man."

They stayed silent in the cold, crisp air of December, just enjoying the quiet until Aiden spoke. "Got anything planned with Fi?" Sam gave a smile, "Yeah, when I get home I'm gonna cook some mac and cheese while we watch Big Mouth in the living room." Aiden couldn't help but laugh.

"It sounds like you're joking but I know you're not." Sam pushed him with a small nudge. "Oh shut up man, what about you? You and Ben doing anything?" Aiden thought for a second, "Uh no, not that I know of." He takes the last drag of his cig then throws it to the side.

Sam looked like Aiden told him he murdered babies for fun. "He's not gonna take you out to dinner or anything, are you serious!? Oh, I'm gonna kill him." Sam started to walk back into the bar but Aiden put his arm in the way of the door. "Dude, stop. It's fine, like I said, I don't even really care about New Year's." Sam looked like a sad puppy. "But you guys are dating. That's different, man."

Aiden thought about it, he was telling the truth about not caring about New Year's. But, he'd be lying if he said he didn't care a little that Ben didn't do anything. Aiden shook the thought away. "It's not. I still don't care about New Year's. Let's get back to work. Can't hide forever." Sam let out an exasperated sigh, "Fiiiiinnnneeee..."

Both men entered the bar again. There was one lone girl left crying about having no one to kiss on New Year's. Through her sobs, she was trying to convince Ben to kiss her. He looked wildly uncomfortable. Aiden walked up behind the taller man letting his hands wrap around his waist "Babe, is this girl bothering you?" He stared daggers at the girl as she ran out the door, continuing to cry. "Aiden, that was rude."

Aiden pulled away from Ben, rolling his eyes. "She was being a bitch!" Ben just stared at him. "What, like she was gonna get a kiss out of you? I would have shanked her first. You're mine." The last two words slipped out by accident but they were true. Aiden didn't say anything else, just huffed and walked away with an angry look on his face

Ben stood shell-shocked at the words as Evie walked up to him. "It's eleven. Me and the kids are leaving. Good luck with the party," she said with a wink. Now Ben was really panicking. He had to keep Aiden busy for an hour. "Hey, Aiden!" Aiden looked at him from where he was picking cups up from under a table. "What?" Ben walked over to him, "Could you stay a little longer to help me clean the bar? Evie and the others left early." Aiden looked almost offended. "What?! I mean, yeah I'll help but.. those pricks, why'd they leave you to clean all this shit by yourself?!" Ben scratched the back of his head. "They had New Year's plans, if you are doing anything you can go, l-" Aiden cut him off, "Even if I did I'm not leaving you to clean this shit by yourself."

Ben smiled, "Thanks." Aiden just continued picking up trash at the table. "It's no problem really, but you have to play music or I will leave you." Ben chuckled. "Oh, of course, I'll play music!!" He walked over to the radio, which had been playing a generic rock station. He connects it to his phone.

Aiden starts to sweep as loud music starts to play over the radio. George Micheal's Careless Whisper. Aiden bursts into laughter. It's a full-on belly laugh. Ben was taken aback by the sight, in the few months he'd known Aiden, he'd never seen him laugh like that. It was beautiful.

After he had finished his laughing fit, he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Oh my god, that caught me off guard, why'd you pick it?" Ben shook himself out of his shell-shocked state and grabbed a rag to clean off the bar. "It's a good song."

The two men continue to clean the bar, singing and dancing. When they finally got done way later than they should have been done, they sat down in one of the clean booths. Aiden spoke, "Man, that was exhausting." Ben chuckled "Need a drink?" Ben pointed at the bar. Aiden huffed a laugh, "Yes, please." Ben walks over to the bar, taking his phone out of his pocket to check the time. 11:56. Ben turns around. "Oh shit, I just remembered I left my keys upstairs, could you grab 'em for me?"

Aiden makes a confused face. "Why do you need the keys? I thought Evie locked up?" Ben rolls his eyes. "I just need them, can you grab them for me, please?" 11:57. Aiden huffs as he stands up. "When I get back there better be a drink waiting for me."

Aiden walks up the stairs to Ben's flat, where he's been many times and knows very well. When he reaches the door, he opens it with a simple turn of the knob. 11:58.

He pushes the door open and is met with a dark room. He searches for the light, and when he finds he turns it on, his eyes are met with a 'Happy Birthday' banner hung across the wall and a cake with some writing on it, sitting on the coffee table. He walks towards the cake to read what's on it. "Happy Birthday Baby" is written in swirly blue frosting.

He hears a voice from behind him, "Surprise" Aiden can feel tears form in his eyes as he rushes towards Ben, kissing him. Tears fall as the sound of booming fireworks rains outside. 12:00. "Happy Birthday, Aiden." Aiden chuckles. "Happy New Year, Ben."

THE END