Maddox Rainer

Lydia could feel her own glare settling over her face as she stared at him, eyes narrowing, “and what response were you expecting, asking that question here? Smiles and invitations to tea?” She rolled her eyes. She hadn’t come to the cafe to argue about this, and part of her wanted to just get up and leave. But her ex’s face flashed through her mind, and she stayed put, taking another sip from her latte.

“Well I thought this place was supposed to welcome all types of people - not just the feminists with hairy pits and Tumblr accounts,” he teased, able to tell that the two of them weren’t likely to hit it off. Though Madd was an asshole, the words he were spouting weren’t true to his actual beliefs. He didn’t spend time with activism or anything along those lines but he wasn’t stupid and knew what the point of this cafe was. He was sitting in it for a reason, after all. As per usual, Madd was spouting words that seemed likely to continue to piss people off. After all, how else was he supposed to have fun?

“Yup - I was born 5 blocks from here,” he shrugged, not caring that he’d essentially stayed within the same area for the past decade and a half. 

Avery was a religious person, no doubt, but he completely respected other peoples opinions about the subject. He simply smiled as a response, not feeling the need to tell his own thoughts. “That’s the same reason they kicked me out,” he teased. 

“You look too much like a fuckin’ hipster to pass as a hippie,” he laughed, Avery’s face just giving off that “Coldplay and fake glasses” vibe that seemed to define the modern day hipsters. “I’m Madd, by the way.”

“Straight kids don’t get kicked out of their homes for being straight. They don’t get kicked out of or complained about in public spaces, in restaurants, in events, all for being straight. People don’t drive straight people out of places or make fun of them for being straight so much that they’re scared to even admit to themselves who they are or what they want.”

Madd just leaned back in his seat, kicking his feet up on the table in front of him. He just stared for a long moment, taking the time to take a long sip of his drink before he opened his mouth again. “Seems like I hit a nerve,” he mused, a small smirk playing at his lips as he watched her, wondering if the lecture would continue or not.

Madd turned to look at her, his brows raising slowly as he looked over at the rather angry girl in front of him. “Good to know asking a fuckin’ question is a death sentence,” he snorted, finding it almost laughable that this had gotten someone so angry. “Violence isn’t the answer, hun.”

Lydia raised an eyebrow, “okay, first, straightphobia isn’t actually a thing. Second, this is meant to be a safe space for us. Plus Cafe’s entire point is to be a safe space for us.”

“Ah, shit, sorry. I didn’t realize you were fuckin’ Wikipedia. Glad to know you’re in charge of what is and isn’t a thing,” he said with raised eyebrows, looking over at the girl who’d answered his question. 

“No,” Wes insisted, and it was true; he usually wasn’t awkward around strangers, but because there had been a mention of sexuality, of course he had to be weird. He was beginning to feel like it was in his nature to be super embarrassing whenever he even thought about his sexuality. “Oh, very clever,” he said, beginning to feel annoyed. “Are you this charming to everyone, or am I getting a special treat?”

Madd had trouble believing that this stranger could be anything but awkward. He’d have to see it to believe it. Of course he could just be one to give off awful first impressions. Or Madd could just be the perfect type to bring out the awkwardness in Wes. “Usually, I make a habit of pissing everybody off - is it working?”

“It’s my personal life mission to fuck up the idea that Canada is full of kind asswipes,” he shrugged, definitely proving to be an outlier among the stereotype that Canadians were all friendly.

“Oh yes! I mean it really was I didn’t even do anything.” Rocco laughed as he looked at him. “I think I’m going to blame Canada it’self, total health risk.” He chuckled. 

“Pretty sure America is the only health risk - they’re a fuckin’ tumor that’s sucking the life out’a Canada,” he laughed, not caring if the man in front of him was American. 

If there was one way to get Jack to lose his arrogant devil-may-care attitude it was by touching him, and while it wasn’t with use of that lighter Jack’s shoulders tensed. He was fine with the insult delivered. Hell, Jack probably wouldn’t have minded if he was punched, but the poke to his cheek provoked him into swinging his arm up to backhand Maddox’s finger away from his face. Other than that, he didn’t react in any way. He only met Madd’s eyes as he added in a quick rebuttal. “Not everyone looks like the douchebag who’s outstayed his welcome in his parents’ basement.”

Madd snorted a bit as his hand was slapped away - clearly the poke had hit a nerve. Now he at least knew one way to push the other man’s buttons and surely, that would come in handy. “I’m glad I give off the vibe of someone who's got parents and a basement. I’d consider that a compliment,” he grinned, happy that Jack didn’t know him well enough to cut deep and wasn’t lucky enough to guess an insult that might actually get to him. Grabbing his to-go cup of coffee, Madd stood up from his seat. He pulled a cigarette out of the pack in his jean pocket and lit it. Inhaling a lung-full of smoke, he blew it in Jack’s face then leaned down to whisper, “see you around, pretty boy.” Before anyone could yell at him or ask him to put out his smoke, Madd slid out the door, laughing to himself.

Jack went so far as to offer a smirk, dark eyes dancing with amusement. He stopped himself from making some perverse comment about shoving things where the sun didn’t touch, but that didn’t change the arrogant and challenging look he suddenly knew how to wear like nobody’s business. Jack hummed softly through his nose and cocked his head to the side. “An ashtray, huh?” Jack couldn’t help the way his mouth turned into a smirk when all that happened should have been enough to provoke an apology from Jack. But for all that knew him Jack wasn’t an apologetic person. He was more interested in watching Madd’s blood boil expecting an altercation of some sort. “But you got me, I’m so scared I might just piss my pants.”

It probably would’ve been better if the other hadn’t been so smug. Madd could deal with anger or rudeness but the little smirk on the other man’s face made him angrier than usual. The last thing he wanted was to play into the other man’s irritating strategy but it definitely was getting to him. “Why am I not surprised? You definitely look like you’re still in diapers,” he sighed, trying to not get overly worked up. To top it off, he leaned forward and pressed a slightly grubby finger to Jack’s cheek, giving him a solid poke. “Look at that baby face...”

“Wow - are you always this awkward?” he laughed out loud, unsure if it was endearing or not how the other defended his solitude. “The difference is I embrace it. I’m like a lone wolf while you, on the other hand, look like a lost puppy,” he teased.

This kid definitely wasn’t the smoothest guy in the coffee shop but Madd didn’t mind. The awkwardness was a little hilarious. “Because you were the closest person to me and I had a pressing question,” he simply stated, taking a big gulp of his coffee. “Plus you were over here all by yourself - it’s pathetic.”

Jack’s brows rose to their peak, but he didn’t give off any indication that he was alarmed. Just- surprised. Out of everyone he’d spoken with this was by far the most hostile sounding response he’d gotten since his teen years. “I just figured we’d all stand to benefit if you popped an altoid or two. I have some in my bag.” He pat his worn out messenger bag hanging loose at his side. It wasn’t a genuine offer as he feigned the most innocent look that he could. It was all just Jack just pushing all of the buttons he could as he met the man’s gaze stubbornly. “Or else you’ll do what, sweetheart?”

Madd’s jaw tensed a bit - he so easily got worked up over the smallest of negative remarks and this was no different. “How about you shove those Altoids up your ass?” He said with a roll of his eyes, trying to not get too mad too fast. It didn’t take much for him to blow up and he was really trying to not resort to immediately hitting somebody. It was hard to get away with assault in a coffee shop. “Or I’ll turn you into my own personal ashtray,” he practically growled, giving his lighter a flick to add a little flame to his threat. 

“I could say the same to you,” He pointed out, laughing a little to himself. “Damn, fine, I’ll leave you alone - I didn’t realize it was a crime to ask a question.”

“Say that a little louder and you might just piss off someone who cares too adamantly about it.” Jack didn’t think of it, nor did he consider to defend the cafe as a place inclusive and welcoming to all despite the celebrations and events that catered to the queer community. The scent of tobacco mixed with coffee hit him and Jack made a face. He no longer cared about Madd’s concern, and more so for the scent of his breath. “Eat a mint or ten if you’re gonna smoke and then talk to people.”

Jack’s rudeness immediately didn’t rest well with Madd’s short temper and lack of rationality. His snide question about ‘straightphobia’ no longer mattered - instead, all he cared about was who the hell this guy thought he was. “You got a fucking problem?” he practically spat, looking over at him with raised brows. He still sat lax in his seat, though his facial expression gave away that he wasn’t feeling particularly chill. “I’d watch your twink-ass mouth if I were you...”