Just a Normal Wendsday
Rody rushed into the Bistro two minutes before his shift started. Vincent was waiting by the register, already annoyed that Rody was late.
“Sorry I’m late, Vince, I-“
Rody was suddenly cut of by the sharp monotone voice that belonged to the chef.
“As you should be. Now get ready for your shift.”
As Vincent stalked off, Rody was left stunned by the lack of corrections from his use of ‘Vince’. It was weird, and oddly sentimental. Rody seated a table of two, and expected a slow day ahead of him. The morning went slow, as expected, but picked up around lunch.
>Two hours later...<
“Hey Vince,” Rody said as he leaned against the wall next to where Vincent was standing.
“Have you ever had any friends outside of work?”
A look of hurt crosses his face, but dissipates quickly before Rody can notice it.
“Oh for the love of— I have a social life outside of work, Lamoree. Now get back to work.”
Rody nods quickly and speed-walks into the dining room. A table of four waits to be seated, along with a table of two. Who was he kidding? Of course he had a social life outside of work!
‘Here we go,’ Rody thought optimistically while putting a smile on his face as he greets the customers.
<>
Vincent blew a puff of smoke out of his mouth. What Rody had said made him think about— no, we’re not going there. It’s too dark; blurry, even. Vincent was smoking because it reminded him of her and because his question reminded him of her.
He was still hurting because of their separation oh so long ago. It didn’t matter that they kept in touch throughout the years; it still pained Vincent to think about her. He had seen a Vogue magazine cover a while ago and recognized her face and features immediately.
Those dark, emotive blue eyes, pale complexion, and glossy black hair. “It’s a shame we had to move,” Vincent’s mother had said. “You two could’ve been such a wonderful couple. Vincent scoffed at the thought because, a) he’s gay, b) they see each other as siblings, and c) it’s his mom.
He observes the cooks within his kitchen. They chop and slice with precision. He notices some are sweating bullets while his gaze lingers on them, their movements quicker and less precise.
Vincent turns his attention to the dining room. Rody was running around, waiting the customers with a big smile on his face.
“Shit!”
His attention was quickly brought back to the kitchen. Vincent asses the situation. It seems that a cook has cut his hand pretty badly. Vincent makes his way to the medical cupboard. He gets the Med kit out of the cabinet and beckons for the chef to come over.
“You should be more careful, Matt. It’s not safe to be cutting things at lightning speed.”
“Sorry Chef, but it’s rush hour and I- -I just don’t want the customers to leave because we’re too slow.”
“It’s fine if they leave, there will always be more customers. You should know that.”
The other cooks moved to continue their work as Rody’s voice rang through the kitchen asking for two desserts and four mains.
“This might sting.”
“Ow! Goddamn!” Matt hissed in pain. Vincent finished wrapping up Matt’s wound.
“Maybe don’t chop things at Godspeed next time? Or just move your fingers out of the way so you don’t accidentally cut them.”
“Got it chef!” Matt said as he walked back to his station. Vincent sighed as he realized he dropped his smoke and put it out when he went to the Med cupboard. He huffed as he lit another one.
“Y’know that’ll kill you right?”
Rody’s voice was calming as he leaned against he wall in his usual spot.
“Yes, I do know that it will kill me one day, but that’s one day, not today.”
“Whatever you say,” Rody says as he shrugs with a smile on his face.
“You should probably get back to serving. I think a group of four just walked in.”
“Yes Chef!” Rody said with a very serious tone that didn’t match the silly smile he has on his face as he mock saluted Vincent. Vincent scoffs playfully in return.
“Here.”
Vincent hands Rody the To-go box of Onion Spring Rolls.
“Thanks, Vince.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Vincent smiled softly as Rody exited through the door. Vincent locked the door and hung the closed sign. He then retreated into his office to sort through mail.
<>
On the drive home, Rody thought about how caring Vince was to the staff. Vincent is always there when anything happens. He helped Matt when he cut his finger today, and there was another time when one of the cooks burnt their hand and Vincent had let them take the day off after he helped treat the burns. He also helped Rody when the garbage bag ripped and he cut his finger.
Vincent may not look like a caring type with the scary eyes and attitude, but expressed it so often, and he also scolded them like a parent would scold their child for misbehaving. It was honestly endearing, and most of the staff would beat you up if you even said one bad word about Vince.
Rody pulled into his driveway and opened the garage door. He parked the car and killed the ignition. Boy he was ready to lay down and go to sleep. He walked into the house and—
“Where have you been?”