“2 Hours?!” Reader x GhostRoach
The lunch rush is brutal as you maneuver between people, tables, trays, and other servers. With one customer complaining his steak is done too well, to another complaining, “It's basically still mooing!” To say you are frustrated is an understatement. You can feel a headache building in the back of your temple alongside the sweat that clings there. It should have gotten easier now that it has settled down somewhat with fewer people pooling in. However, there was one tiny problem: your coworker, Spider, who went on her break about two hours ago, is still missing. In fact, you have served at least two of her tables. At this rate, you are about to tell Gaz to give her the next five people out of spite.
With some sparse downtime, you burst into the kitchen, a scowl set on your face. Horongi is the first to look up, his eyebrows furrowing as you make your way over to Roach. He’s chatting with his boyfriend, Ghost, who is busy cooking something up. Probably something for one of your tables. You’ve noticed how he prefers taking tickets from you or Roach. You assumed that it was because you had become good friends with the couple recently. It could also be because he can actually read your handwriting. Slipping another ticket onto a paper clip, you sigh, hands on your hips, looking up at the taller man. He had paused his conversation with Ghost when he heard you sigh. A look of worry on his freckled covered face as he speaks, “What’s wrong, tiny?” You cringe at the nickname, which earns a chuckle from Ghost.
“I am about two seconds from killing Spider myself! Her break was about,” you pause, checking your phone before snapping, “Two hours ago?” You don’t mean to come off that strong to Roach, but everything just seems to be aggravating right now. He frowns and reaches for something that Ghost placed down on the counter when he heard your rambling. “Here, drink this, you need it.” A cold glass of water is put into your hands as Roach reaches into his apron for a straw. You try to protest, but he’s already placing the straw in the cup and nudging it your way. “We don’t need you passing out on us,” you decided to let him win this one as you gingerly sip from the cup. As you drink, Roach seems to be messaging someone on his phone before giving a smile and placing it back in his pocket. “Spider will be back soon, and it looks like she’ll have a few extra tables.” You raise a brow at him, but he just shrugs. Placing the now-empty cup down and your headache seems to have eased slightly.
Ghost finally speaks up, “She’s about to come bustin in here and place more tickets down.” You get a small idea at this grab the stepping stool, you place it in front of the door. Taking your place on the stool, you wait until a muscular woman comes bopping into the kitchen. Her face is turned towards the door, but when she almost runs into you, she startles. “Agh! O-oh, hi, hello…” She stutters upon noticing the scowl on your face. You lean into her space ever menacing, “Two-hour break?” She looks shocked, pulling out her phone, then cursing. “Shit, I didn’t even- when?” Scrabbling to compose herself long enough to apologize and get back to work. You only tisk as she walks around you, muttering apologies as she clips a few orders. You move to get back to work, yourself talking out loud to her, “I already got food and drink orders for table six and ten. All you gotta do is get the food and refills for them. Think you can do that?” You say with more venom than intended, and she shyly nods, avoiding your piercing gaze.
As you leave, you hear something about Soap and how she’s totally blaming him for something. You really don’t care right now. A smoke break was needed, despite how you have been trying to quit; it has just been an afternoon, and you need something. You make sure to gather some needed refills and cash out a few customers before picking the right time to trail off into the makeshift smoke area. It is really just the glorified breakroom, but outside. A few chairs were set up near a back entrance door away from the crowded parking lot in the front. Nudging the door open, you find you aren’t the only one who was able to sneak away for a smoke. Ghost is sitting in a worn-out lawn chair, a bud between his lips he simply nods at you in acknowledgement. You take the chair next to him, plopping down with a grunt. Before you can even grab your own pack, a strong arm is nudging your shoulder gently.
You look down to find the man offering you a cigarette, shaking the box for extra effect. You chuckle and thank him as you take one between your fingers. He must be in a generous mood as he pulls his lighter out and lights the cigarette for you. You are both leaning in for a moment, watching the flame ignite the bud. For a moment, your eyes meet, and your stomach does something weird that you can’t explain. However, it only lasted a moment, and once the cigarette is lit, you quickly pull away and place it to your mouth. You mumble a small thank you to the blonde man. Thankfully the tension eases quickly as you both sit in a comfortable silence. While this isn’t the first time this has happened with Ghost or even Roach, you just assume that's how they are. A nagging voice sounding a lot like Spider tells you that there is definitely another reason they are both acting this way but you're mad at her, so you ignore the nagging voice. You think to yourself, What does she know anyway?
