Work Text:
He.. left. He just left. He already had enough money to buy something for that girl. Why now? Why when Vince made the damn meal for him. His plan was ruined because of that. Goddamn it. And now? He needs to find a new waiter? He doubts there will be anyone similar to that man... Even if someone like that would exist. He wouldn't replace Rody. Ugh and now he's talking like he's in love. He's not. He just... can't lose a waiter. But he already did. Not turning back. If only that man would know his ex girlfriend is dead.
Vince threw the plate with the meal for Rody onto the table in the freezer, now it was probably not good to eat. Great. Guess he's not getting his taste any soon. Would his plan even work? If it wouldn't then.. then he'd kill her and the waiter for nothing.
Doesn't matter anymore. He should stop thinking about it, soon he entered his apartment. He felt like he was about to fucking die, probably because he didn't eat any damn food in days. Not his fault it's just sad to eat it without tasting anything. ...Maybe he'll just eat a lemon. It definitely won't help, but at least he'll feel just a bit of something from it. Not taste though.... Or he'll drink something strong. Probably not the best idea, after all he didn't eat any meals.
Either way he did it. Here he was, on the couch with a bottle of some strong lemon flavor alcohol. Regretting his life choices. Regretting living in this goddamn country in which he can't even be himself. He looked over at a paper on a table that was signed by him, something about gay rights... It's just stupid. That's probably why he didn't send it anywhere. Looking over at the bottle he realized he drank a lot. He placed it onto the table next to the paper. Wouldn't want to have a big hangover during work.. But the bottle had different plans, it didn't stand straight and fell, the liquid spilled onto the paper. At least it wasn't some work papers.
He'll deal with the mess lat— the phone started ringing. His gaze slowly turned to look at it. Eventually he picked it up, unsurprisingly he was met with Rody's voice.
"Hey Vince.. I know it's pretty late but— I beg you just listen to me."
Oh god.. don't tell him that he's going to have to be listening to Rody talking about his ex girlfriend again. "Is the job still available?" It was all he actually heard, since everything else was probably about Manon. Those 5 words was all he had his focus on.
"Why wouldn't it be? Do you think it's so damn easy to find a waiter in just a couple of hours?" It surely wasn't easy if you weren't even trying to find one. "So you see.. I.. is there any chance I could.. work again..?" . . . . Excuse him? Who does he think he is? He's not some damn special guy, he's not a favorite. He doesn't have a favorite worker of his. But he needs a waiter. And he needs the waiter to be Rody. But what if it'll fail again? If he'll leave again once he'll get enough money.. But at the same time.. if Rody does get back to working, he could make and try giving him the meal made with her meat.
"Vince? You still there..?" He wished he wasn't. He wished he wouldn't even be alive, because of the guy he's talking with now. That.. probably would happen soon though, because of him not eating. But that's besides the point.
Eventually after staying quiet for so long he started speaking. "I could give you a second chance. But if you do something wrong, or fucking steal something from my house again– I won't hesitate to fire you, or even use your meat for my next dish." His voice tone was... intimidating. You wouldn't be able to tell if he's joking or not. Rody would just take it as a joke. "...Thank you. Thank you so much Vince- I..-" There we go. Thanking him for something so damn stupid. Sure it probably was important to the waiter to get money, to have a job. But to him? It was meaningless to thank him. Instead of that he should prepare himself to be working like some professional waiter. Like the best one in the world. "Just go to sleep already Rody. I'll kill you if you end up being late." The man on the other line agreed and the call ended.
Vincent doesn't drink a lot. He knows how to control himself. But because of him drinking things so damn strong, it might as well count as drinking a lot. His head did hurt a bit when he woke up. 'a bit'. At least he didn't wake up late. He got up and prepared himself to go to the bistro. He can already feel the headache will be even worse with Rody. Ignoring that. He left the apartment and went down to the bistro. To his surprise Rody was.. already there? Surprisingly. One thing that was quite unexpected from him. He groaned annoyed when he saw the state the man was in. "You look even worse than usually." He watched as he got ready. Seems he really needed this job. "I didn't really have the best night..." The tanned man answered nervously while picking up the plate with wine. "Just don't let the customer think you're some homeless guy I took in." Vince had his arms crossed as he walked away to the kitchen, observing every movement from the cooks.
Rody was pretty proud of his job today, he moved pretty fast, gave the right orders. It was going smooth. Just, he felt like Vince was acting different. Annoyed yeah- like always. But.. he kind of looked more pale. If that was even possible.
Maybe it's nothing, maybe he just forgot how pale his boss really is. He also wanted to ask again about.. about Manon. That picture still lingers in his mind. Soon, came the part of the day when less customers came. He took that to his advantage and went to talk a bit with the other man. "Hey Vince." He gave him a smile. A big smile. Like the best thing ever happened. "What?" Vincent was leaning against a wall with crossed arms and a look on his face that screamed.. different than usual. "You good? You seem a bit..." Before he could finish his thought, he got cut off. "I'm fine. What do you want." Well he certainly doesn't look fine. And not just today.
He looks like he never eats or sleeps. Maybe he's like that because he thinks girls like that. Or that Manon likes that.. No no. They're probably not dating. Even if they would be it's not his business.. It was like his boss could read his mind because of what he said next. "If you're here to ask about that girl then get back to work. I don't know what's happening with her." He let out a sigh at that. "Then.. were you dating her?" Rody noticed the other scoffing at that and even looking.. disgusted? Did he think of Manon as ugly or what? If yes then he was so wrong! Manon was the most beautiful girl he ever saw! "No, I wasn't. Get back to work now. Customers are waiting."
He was finally done with his shift. Finally. He cleaned everything, hoping for maybe a raise for that.
"Rody."
A voice came from behind him, just as he was supposed to leave the building. His body almost immediately turned around. "I'm hosting a dinner party.. again." Oh how great. Again..? God... "Will you pay—" "No. And you have to appear there. Don't even try lying that you're sick." How did he see right through his plan?! "Alright alright.. when is the dinner party?" A groan escaped his mouth, leaning onto the entrance door. "22:00 today. Be on the damn time." Sure will. Or he'll pretend he's sick so well that Vince would believe him— that definitely wouldn't work. "Fine. Goodnight Vince." . . . "Goodnight.. Rody."
Vincent fell.. even worse. His headache wasn't so bad anymore, but his stomach felt so weak. He forced himself to eat some small meal but it didn't help. The people that were invited coincidentally cancelled the party.. Everyone said they wouldn't come, a shame. Yet at the same time he was glad. He didn't have the energy to make any snacks nor did he have any energy for a bunch of annoying people. That was why he was a bit surprised when he heard a knock. Then he realized. Rody. He forgot to tell him to not come. Fuck.. With a groan he forced himself to stand up and walk towards the front door, opening it he was met with Rody who looked.. Out of energy. He probably drove with his bike as fast as he could to be on time.
"Uh.. no one is here?" The tanned man asked confused while looking around with his eyes.
His eyes landed on Vince. At which the apartment owner rolled his eyes. "It was cancelled. I forgot to call you." The dark haired man leaned onto the door. He could see 'concern' in the other's eyes. "Why? Are you not feeling alright?" Here we go. Caring for your boss. Pretty weird thing to do. Not that he didn't do more weird things... "I'm feeling fine. They just couldn't come–" "You sure? You really don't look so fine." A glare was visible from the chef's eyes. "Rody. Doing whatever you're trying to do won't get you a raise." He really wasn't sure if the waiter was doing that for a raise or he genuinely cared.
Either way he didn't want him in his house while no one else is inside. Especially when he's feeling like this. Who knows. He could steal more things from him. Find out what happened to Manon- He can't have that. "I'm not– fine. If you don't want help from me sure. I'll go..." Good. Was it? Yes. It was.. He closed the door when Rody left. Locking it and going back to the couch. But he couldn't even rest for a minute when he heard another knocking. Going back to the door he sighed annoyed. "Rody for God's sake—!" His glare hardened on the man in front of him. "I told you I fucking don't want you in-" "My bike broke.." An awkward smile was on his face. A smile that said he did it on purpose. "Then walk home. I don't care." He was seriously going to kill the guy soon. "It's far.." It's far?! What kind of excuse is that?! He doesn't give any damn fuck if it's far.
"I don't–" He wanted to let the man know he genuinely didn't care, but..
"..forget it. Whatever. But if I'll notice that something is gone from this place, you're getting fired." Why did he agree? He didn't miss him or even like him that much. If anything he was annoyed by seeing his face. Yet he had this longing for him.. Maybe. He doesn't know about feelings. Especially love. Maybe he just.. wants anyone in this apartment with him. Yes he did have Manon inside before, and those friends of his.. But with this man, it's different.
"How nice of you, Vince."
That damn smile on his face. How annoying. It made him feel things. While looking closer at the man he noticed he was somehow nervous? Or scared. Which made him laugh a bit– not out loud that is of course.
The chef threw a blanket and some pillows onto the couch. It surely didn't look as comfortable, well probably more comfortable than Rody's couch.. So surely he'd be satisfied. "Do you have any... uh food? I may have not eaten anything....." Maybe he should've stay quiet, because the look Vincent gave him was.. oh boy. If looks could kill, he'd be so damn dead.
"And the leftovers I gave you?" Right. He forgot about them a bit. Well not like he could heat them up. His thoughts got interrupted by a sigh. "Forget it. I don't have any food." What? No food? How does this guy not have any food [while having money]?!
"So that's why you look like that? Like you're about to die, you know." It might've been a bit harsh... Even though he was just saying the truth. The man didn't answer him– so he took that as a yes. And just stayed quiet, he was probably too annoying for him. But he can't just ignore him when he's like that, he doesn't want to lose his job because the boss died of starvation. That's all. And maybe because Vince seems so lonely. When Rody laid down on the couch he immediately felt like he's in heaven. That might also be the reason why he fell asleep so quickly. Unfortunately he didn't sleep for long, being a light sleeper isn't easy.. Well he woke up because of some noise he heard.
"So you also can't taste when you vomit... and that's why you don't care about it?" The chef was sitting on the couch Rody was sleeping on just moments ago. "You think me not being able to taste works only on food?" Ah... heheh.. Maybe he did.
"Quit staring.." Oh yeah, he didn't realize he was staring at him for so long. Who could blame him though? He never saw the man like that. It was an unforgettable moment. Maybe he'd get a raise if he'll help him.. God, no. What is he thinking? Just about a raise? He should be more worried that his boss could die or not be able to open the restaurant in that state.
"I could help somehow. To make you feel better that is..."
"I'm feeling alri—"
"Like make you some food." . . . . "No. I wouldn't trust you in a kitchen. ESPECIALLY in my kitchen." Hey, he's not that bad.. eh, who is he lying to. He is pretty bad in the kitchen, and could literally burn water.. somehow. But Vince doesn't seem like he'll even try to make some food for himself. Though it seemed like the black haired noticed Rody's attempt at helping him. "Fine. I'll have an eye on you." Good. Wait– "Didn't you say you have no food..?" Or he lied so the waiter would fuck off. Probably.
He did have an eye on him, that was the only reason he didn't burn anything. The chef kept telling him what to do and what not to do. And that way he succeeded in doing a dish for Vincent. He watched him eat it. "Is it good?" Rody was acting like it was his first succeeded dish, well it might as well be. Vince gave him a glare at the question.... right.. "It's probably good. Since I helped you, and I'm not dying from it." He took it from the other's hands and placed it on the table. When he was doing so, Vince laid down on the couch. And the waiter noticed a paper soaked with some liquid. It was something about rights.. Gay rights? He didn't expect the bistro owner to be that kind of person– ..Well now that he thinks about it, it would make sense. He never thought about that. His gaze returned to the man lying on the couch.
. . . .
What Vince didn't expect was to Rody lay down beside him, he expected him to go somewhere else.. Did he mind though? ...... "Hey Vince. Are you.. y'know... gay?" The last word was spoken in a whisper, like the man wasn't sure if he should ask, or if he understood it correctly. "Before you answer– just know that it won't change anything, I also won't tell anyone." "..What—" "I'll still work for you, and act like you're completely normal."
"Rody."
The more tan man's thoughts got interrupted, right he shouldn't assume. Maybe Vince is not gay. Maybe he just wants everyone to be treated the same.
"You're making me seem like some vulnerable gay guy."
"Ah... sorry, sorry.." A nervous smile found his way onto his face. So Vince is gay. He assumed those people were worse. Were really different. Guess he was wrong. Not that he has any problem with that. It doesn't matter for him. He placed his hand on top of the pale man's one. At this point he wasn't even controlling his own body... And his mind. But Vince seemed too tired, be it because of Rody, or he just wanted to sleep so badly, to even question his workers actions.
"You're actually quite likeable, boss."
"..In a different way than friends or workers."
"what the **fuck** are you saying... I'm not in love with you."
"I never said you were.. I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore....!" The man called Rody laughed. Maybe. Vincent already went to sleep.
"So, will I get a raise? Maybe a small one? A tiny one?" An attempt to make a joke, or not even a joke. Just an attempt to get more money. A sigh came out of the now healthy Vince's mouth. "Maybe." That made Rody's expression go to a shocked one, mouth wide open. "I was joking." And now he seemed like a sad puppy. "..Maybe."