#they said that the server reacted passive aggressively when the server walked to a table and the order wasn't theirs

[princemick]

someone left a review abt passive aggressive behavior from a server and I instantly got told and three people instantly thought it was about me. I read the review, probably about me yeah.

[amusedyan]

I'm loving your blog. So listen, I'd die for some Ouran content. Maybe a Kyoya falling for a guest at some Ootori party, she was brought along by some wealthy friend of hers and is not into the wealthy elite at all, something that bothers but intrigues Kyoya. I'd love to see him try to woo her, become protective of her, because she lives such a dangerous regular commoners life without body guards. Then try to save her from that life. How would he react to her misbehaving or being generally 1/2

Unhappy with the situation he’s put her in? Whether it’s him micromanaging every aspect of her life or him having actually locked her up in some corner of the Ootori manor? Personally, I always saw Kyoya as someone who enjoyed old-fashioned punishments. Like a spanking over the knee. But it’s totally up to you. I love where you took that Bakugo fic, so I trust you to take this where ever. Honestly, I’d just be so grateful if you had any Ouran content to offer. Again, love your work so far 2/2

Yay my first Ouran request! Thanks so much nonnie for requesting this, I love Kyoya- his deadpan humor and general attitude just give me so many ideas and make him such a great character! And those same traits make him terrifying as a yandere!

Bitter

You hated fancy parties.

You picked at your collar and tried not to look like you were bored out of your mind as all the rich people mingled and laughed discussed business over food and drinks more expensive than your family’s monthly grocery bill. 

It was funny. You could write off your friend’s eccentric behavior, but in a group of rich people? Well, the bitterness crept back in and left a sour tang in your mouth. 

You glanced down at your flute of champagne. It would be, what, your third? Reluctantly you returned it- you were a guest, getting blackout drunk was not on your shortlist of ‘great ideas for parties full of rich people’. So you just mingled politely, staying close to your friend.

“Mr. Ootori!” She declared happily, waving over a dark haired man with a calm smile and glasses. There’s half a moment of hesitation on his part before he approaches- you can’t blame him; a brief word with your friend turns into half an hour with her.

“Glad you could make it,” he offered dutifully, and oh that was interesting- he had that same look in his eyes you did- like he couldn’t stand his own kind. It had to be some kind of joke.

You found yourself smiling for the first time that night, and caught the way his eyes flashed at you for the briefest of seconds before it was gone.

Maybe you’d imagined it.

“I see you’ve made use of the plus one on your invitation.” He remarked, and your friend laughed and introduced you.

Ootori nodded and looked back at you with a raised eyebrow, “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you.” His tone was just detached enough that you couldn’t be sure if it was a joke or an insult.

“You wouldn’t- I’m not pedigreed.” You wished you could take a drink as a mic drop. Instead you just had to content yourself with your friend’s horrified look.

But Ootori just looked amused.

“Man people prefer mutts to purebreds,” he said in that same level tone.

As a person who’d had several mutts growing up, you could confirm that they were better. Less health problems. 

He asked what your job was and you mentioned the field, notwanting to stray into talk about work. Work was work, and frankly here wasn’tthe place to talk about it. Thankfully Ootori accepted it and didn’t push,instead managing to draw you into aconversation that didn’t make you want to beat your own head in. It was nice.

Finally, he had to excuse himself and see to his otherduties as host, but before he left he caught your hand and brought it up to pressa gentle kiss there. It stopped you short, as did the small smile playing onhis lips.

“Until we meet again,” he promised cryptically, before goingoff to join his people.

Your friend was gawking at you.

You decided maybe one more glass of champagne wouldn’t hurtyou.

Two weeks after the Ootori party Kyoya Ootori himself walkedinto your favorite coffee shop, saw you and invited himself to sit at yourtable after taking his order. The man was far out of his element but didn’tseem in the least bit uncomfortable, exuding a calm confidence and sense ofcontrol that made clear why he was so good at his job.

(And yeah, you had gone the creepy route and looked him upon the internet, rather than just asking your friend; they might have gone toschool together once upon a time but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t misreadyour questions as interest and let him know about it on a lark.

Despite being the youngest Kyoya had managed to earn hisplace as heir of Ootori conglomerate. He was ruthless in business but one hellof philanthropist, setting up multiple scholarship programs for elite schoolsthat lower income students wouldn’t have access to, on top of the dozens ofother charities that the company donated to on the regular. And that was whatyou could track down in maybe 45 minutes)

“Pretty far from your side of town,” you observed, addinganother packet of sugar to your coffee.

“I had business in the area and needed a coffee.” You hummed and watched him watch you.

He was quiet for a minute and you took the time to drink your coffee. His was pure black, you’d heard him order it.

“You remind me of a friend I had.” He said suddenly, and you stayed quiet, although you were a little confused because he didn’t seem like the type to have friends. “She wasn’t impressed by money either.”

“Smart of her.”

He chuckled a little bit, no more than a huff. 

“I’d like to take you out for dinner sometime.” Now that actually made you look at him properly. He hadn’t taken his eyes off you yet.

“Because I’m not interested in money?”

“Because I find your conversation relaxing and I’d like to think you feel the same way.”

It was a bit weird; you’d had maybe 20 minutes total of talking with this man. Technically those twenty minutes were enjoyable. Kyoya was blunt and composed and intelligent; you could appreciate that in a man.

“Alright.” You agreed, surprising yourself.

Kyoya’s smile unfolded into something a little more open. You wondered how often people saw this one.

You exchanged numbers and the promise of detail exchange later; you had to get back to work soon, and even though he didn’t say he needed to leave you were sure that he needed to get back too.

There were flowers on your desk at work the next day.

The bouquet was gorgeous; lavender roses and baby’s breath- you didn’t even know that lavender roses this nice were in season.

The card on the vase (a very nice, very expensive looking vase) confirmed your suspicions.

I saw these and thought of you.

                                          -Ootori Kyoya

And you smiled because it was really thoughtful.

But…how did he know where you worked?

Ootori: Did you receive the flowers?

Me: Yes I did! They’re beautiful, thanks!

Me: How did you know where I worked?

Ootori: You told me at the party, remember?

Me: Ah, sorry, I must have forgotten!

Me: Thanks again, Ootori.

Ootori: Call me Kyoya, please.

You work out a good night for the both of you to go out. It took some shuffling on your part, but at least Kyoya seemed willing to work with you.

He meant what he said at least- he was serious about dinner.

And it was dinner at a really nice restaurant; one that had a really long wait list ordinarily and didn’t have a price on the menu.

Well, you get to break out your formal clothes again, and it was nice to watch the way Kyoya’s expression changed when you entered the dining area. The softening of his mask maybe. 

“You look nice.” Was all he said about it, though, even as he stood up to pull out your chair for you.

“Thanks, so do you.” And he did. Kyoya could have worn anything and pulled it off, probably.

The server came by moments later with wine and glasses. That was nice at least, but again…

“You ordered for me?” You asked, smiling. He nodded.

“I thought it more convenient.” 

Pushy, but whatever, he meant well.

Except…

The pushing didn’t stop.

It started with the wine, yeah, but it just got worse.

Kyoya didn’t understand how to not overstep his bounds, and he always looked amused when you started to point out that looking up your girlfriend’s home address was still creepy, even when the intent was to send you flowers. And he sent you a lot of flowers.

But no, Kyoya, having several bodyguards walk you home from work didn’t make you feel safe, especially when they weren’t allowed to talk to you.

And he just…he didn’t get it.

You wanted to break up with him, but the problem was Kyoya, when he wasn’t disrespecting your boundaries at least, was charming, intelligent, and honestly you liked him a lot. You just figured it was one of those things you would work out with him, or maybe it was new relationship jitters.

When Kyoya tried to give you a watch more expensive than your apartment, you finally, firmly, put your foot down.

“It’s too expensive,” you argued firmly.

“I already bought it.”

“Then return it, because I can’t possibly accept it.” It made you uncomfortable, how willing he was to drop so much money on you so fast.

“I can’t return it, it was personalized.” He said, frowning. And…okay, touching, but still…

You turned it over in your hand and blinked at the elegant writing

For my darling

“That’s…really sweet, Kyoya.”

He hugged you gently, awkwardly. You got the feeling he wasn’t used to initiating, but that was fine.

“I just want you to have the best.”

“I know.”

(Your first time with Kyoya is…wonderful. He worships you and breaks you apart gently and puts you back together with his touch. The whole time he looks at you like he’s having a religious experience, doesn’t break eye contact, doesn’t close his eyes.

For a minute you could have sworn he was crying)

Kyoya started inviting you to parties and events with him three months into your relationship.

The idle speculation and blank smiles from your time as a normal guest were gone, replaced with biting comments and passive aggression. It sucks, but it gave you an excuse to stay with Kyoya, and he didn’t seem to mind. 

It was nice though, watching that dark look flash in his eyes when someone made a comment.

But he kept your hand in his and doted on you in his own way all evening.

You split away from him, briefly, to use the bathroom and check how you looked in the mirror. Not a hair was out of place and you didn’t look a thing like yourself.

On your way back, not 10 feet from your boyfriend, a guest flush with bourbon and bolstered by his friends inquired “how much the Ootori runt paid for you” because he’d “pay double”. You flushed with rage, but before you could get a word out Kyoya was the one to appear and drag you out of his sight.

“I could have handled it, Kyoya.” You promised, but he shook his head.He didn’t stop, handing over the tickets to get your coats. “The party isn’t over yet, don’t you still have business-”

“They don’t deserve to look at you,” he snarled, and it was with a vehemence you never would have expected from him, it startled you so bad.

“Kyoya-”

“No. We’re going home and they’re never going to see you again.”

Oh.

You took your coat, quiet, letting Kyoya guide you to his car and opened it for you, sliding into the backseat with you.

“Are you ashamed of me?” You asked quietly, watching him roll up the tinted divider between you and the driver.

Are you going to leave me? Went unasked. That fear just…it crippled you. He wouldn’t, would he? Just because his associates didn’t like you?

“Never.” He promised firmly, pulling you into his lap. You hesitated but moved to assist, curling up against him. “I would never be ashamed of you. You’re mine.” And those words were so cold, despite the warm look in his eyes.

“But you said-”

“They’ll never set eyes on you again because they don’t deserve to look at you. I’m going to take you home and you’re going to stay there where I can keep you safe and away from their filthy eyes. Alright, darling?”

His lips were on your neck, his whisper made your bones warm. But you shook your head no.

“Kyoya, it’s fine, people are going to be rude-”

“They don’t have a right to be that way to you, not when you’re mine.”

You laughed a little, trying to diffuse the tension, squirming, trying to get off his lap. Kyoya’s arms were iron around you though, holding you tight, so tight you couldn’t breathe.

“Let go of me, Kyoya,”

“No, we’re going home and I’m going to show you how much you’re worth.”

“As romantic as that sounds, I really have to get back to my place-”

Kyoya’s grip on your jaw was punishing, his nails digging in and bruising you for for sure. 

“Shut up.”

“Kyoya-”

He kissed you harsh, it was biting and angry and you were sure that you tasted blood.

“You are mine. I’ve let you wander long enough, so be quiet and be good and everything will be fine. If you don’t then I will have to hurt you, do you understand?” When you didn’t answer right away he shook you. 

“Understand?”

[baekhyunsahoe]

pt 1 revised

“HOT GRILL!”

Chanyeol presses himself into the wall corner as a server passes through with a steaming iron plate in tow. He can feel the heat radiate right against his apron clad crotch and he holds back a whimper.

Whoever said working at EXO Korean BBQ house was easy clearly lied. Then again no one told him that. It’s Chanyeol’s fourth day as a runner and one thing he’s learned is that the floor is definitely a battlefield, a dimly illuminated in blue lights battlefield with each table armed with tongs and scissors as they throw their raw meat of choice onto the circular grill and watch it sizzle as the smoke rises and engulfs half the restaurant with fumes from the all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque goodness. They dine like kings seated upon white leather seated booths, employees their bitches for the night as they yell their order left and right. It’s loud in there after all. Deafening decimals of the top 40 booming, or when it’s near closing, trap music. It’s busy. Completely overwhelming. Chanyeol’s never really been too coordinated to begin with. He finds himself on his toes every second.

Upon finally deeming it safe to remove himself from becoming one with the side station, he finds the lapse in his judgment too late and nearly crashes into another coworker decked out in the all black button up collared dress shirt they all have to wear. BAEKHYUN, his name tag reads. He’s a rather pretty little thing with kohl rimmed eyes and soft looking dyed blonde hair. But then –

“Say corner next time,” he hisses, shoving Chanyeol deliberately with a bony shoulder.

“Got it,” Chanyeol winces with a pained smile. Sheesh.

Six more hours to go…

  --

  His break comes as a small miracle in life. It’s basically closing when Suho, the manager, pulls him aside, floor plan in hand.

“Go on your thirty.”

Chanyeol nods. He ignores his reflection staring back at him in the spectacles of the polite well-mannered yet just as aggressive as everyone else manager. He knew he looked like a hot mess, oil spills on his shirt and apron. What once was a youtube tutorial attempt at an updo probably a chaotic mop of hair on top of his head, black bangs sweaty and his forehead shiny with gel. You could honestly cook some Korean bbq on his face by this point… for free.

The fresh air of the outside world feels like heaven. Chanyeol takes a deep breath. It was dark out, and it’s probably way colder than it feels, but the restaurant is a nonstop overheated smoky pit of bulgogi and kalbi fumes, making the temperature outside beyond refreshing in comparison.

Chanyeol’s feet are killing him even as he sits on curb. The parking lot is still full and he sees customers walking in despite them basically reaching closing time. This establishment never turns away anyone though, so even at 11 o clock they accept business with open albeit aching arms.

It must be the longest time he hasn’t touched his phone in one day. He pulls it out of his backpack and sees a few snaps from Jongin. The fool’s drinking while studying for midterms. Chanyeol shakes his head a small smile on his face when he hears a loud bang from the kitchen back door behind him.

Out comes Baekhyun, apronless for once. Chanyeol’s never seen him without the apron, and he can’t help but check out his figure, tight black slacks hugging his noticeably shapely hips and slim thighs. He forces himself to look up before he becomes known as a creeper.

“Hi.” He greets somewhat scared because Baekhyun wasn’t exactly the friendliest person on the planet.

“What.” Baekhyun snaps at the same time he pulls a personal bottle of what looks like Hennessey from who knows where. He chugs it as Chanyeol blinks in shock and mild amazement. What a baddie.

“Um.”

“Are you gonna snitch?” Baekhyun drawls but shows no fear. His pink lips are wet. The light from the back of the building highlight him in an almost dramatic way. “Or did you want some?”

Chanyeol seriously goes over his options for a second. Accept and be a badass or refuse and basically write pussy BITCH on his forehead.

“Yeah sure.”

He gets up to his full height of 6 feet 2 inches. Baekhyun looks up at him and it’s the first time Chanyeol feels like he’s actually being seen as a person instead of a runner noob.

Baekhyun looks impressed himself, handing him the personal.

Chanyeol chugs it mindlessly trying hard to be cool but damn near chokes when he remembers how disgusting Hennessey was when warm and worse, no chase. He’s trying not to grimace but the laugh that comes out of Baekhyun’s mouth confirms his failure. He cant help but feel a little good about himself that he got Baekhyun to laugh though, or maybe it was the hot alcohol going down his throat and his body reacting immediately after not eating for almost 12 hours.

“Thank you.” Chanyeol breathes, wiping at his mouth. Baekhyun takes another swig killing the little bottle.

“You owe me.” Is all he says with a handsome smirk before walking back in leaving chanyeol buzzed and suddenly feeling the cold.

By the time he’s over Baekhyun’s laugh, his thirty is up.

   -----

  “Hey.”

Chanyeol’s grabbed roughly by the arm, no introduction no explanation, and dragged to section one – the godforsaken high-tops near the host stand.

Baekhyun lets go but not before shoving a broom and dustpan into Chanyeol’s hands.

“Clean my section for me,” Baekhyun orders, looking up at Chanyeol with an expectant look of sorts.

“Uh,” Chanyeol starts.

“It’s simple. Degrease the bowls, degrease the tables, sanitize it, sanitize the chairs and chair legs, wipe down the light and wooden panels, then sweep and mop the floor,” Baekhyun lists and Chanyeol has to seriously wonder if Baekhyun even knew what the word ‘simple’ meant. Before he can dwell too long Baekhyun finishes with a passive aggressive, “You owe me remember?”

Wow. Baekhyun really came to collect within an hour time frame. Is that how it was at this place?

“Okay,” Chanyeol agrees accepting his fate. That miniscule shot of heem wasn’t worth it to be honest. Like Chanyeol was buzzed for twenty minute then it went away.  

Baekhyun steps closer. “Are you mad?”

“No!” Chanyeol splutters.

“Good,” Baekhyun smiles with satisfaction. “Don’t forget to do the set up. Plates, napkins, chopsticks.” Baekhyun retreats to the side station in two steps and comes back with a utensil in each hand. “Scissors and tongs. Got it?”

“Okay,” Chanyeol nods feeling tired already.

“Have a good night,” Baekhyun trails off, squinting at Chanyeol’s nametag. “Chanyeol.” He adds as if acknowledging Chanyeol indeed had a name makes the situation any better. Hearing him say his name did send a strangely delightful chill up Chanyeol’s spine though. “Bye.”

He leaves without wasting another second.

Chanyeol sighs, staring at the mess that is section one. Other people already look halfway done with their cleaning. Loud ratchet music is blasting from the speakers and everyone seems to be chilling but Chanyeol doesn’t know anyone and it seems people here aren’t too interested in getting to know fresh meat.

He gets to work, pulling on gloves after finally locating where they were stored to begin with. He regrets not bringing his earphones because the trap playlist was really not what he needed right now.

It’s been half an hour and he’s only on grill number two at table eleven. Chanyeol’s not sure if he’s slow af and sucks at this or if everyone else were just born with god given grill cleaning talent. It was probably a little of both.

He senses someone’s presence behind him right when he sees a shadow loom onto the table.

“Ha.”

Chanyeol turns around curious as to who decided to give him the time of day.

It’s a tall boy. He looks young with gaunt facial features and a big nose, but a baby face. He’s pretty cute like all the servers, Chanyeol guesses they all had to be attractive to work here however shallow that sounds. This particular staff member’s sleepy eyes are full of amusement and his black hair rocks high school style bangs making him look even younger.

“Yes?” Chanyeol prompts unsurely as the guy proceeds to just linger.

“He better be paying you for that,” he says.

Chanyeol finally notices his nametag – Sehun, it reads.

“What do you mean,” Chanyeol asks slowly.

“Baekhyun. Making you his bitch and all. Cleaning his section and stuff,” Sehun flicks a piece of kalbi bone off the table. “He should tip you out for it.”

“Oh.” Chanyeol doesn’t know why but his face burns at this. Is he really Baekhyun’s bitch? Why did he strangely have no problem with that? He shakes his head, “No it’s cool. I owed him a favor.”

“Already?” Sehun looks genuinely surprised. “You’ve barely been here twenty four hours.”

“It’s my fourth shift actually.”

“Exactly.” Sehun purses his lips as he nods. “Tell you what. I’ll help you clean once I’m done with my section but only if you personal run for me tomorrow.”

“Personal run?”

“Yeah. Wait do you even work tomorrow?”

Chanyeol thinks for a moment, summoning a mental image of his schedule into his mind. “Yeah.” He confirms. “Four to close.”

“Perfect! It’s busy on Saturdays and Suho doesn’t break me til 12am that fuck,” Sehun pouts a little. “I definitely need a runner if I want to make decent take home.”

Chanyeol’s never run for anyone before, mainly floor running with no designated server to attend to. Picking up empty plates off tables and clearing the expo line until it was time to go home. He still hasn’t mastered the art of carrying two trays which is pretty pathetic seeing as he is one of the taller workers and should be swole. Coming out with one tray looks sad.

“I’m down. I’ll be your runner,” Chanyeol confirms with finality and a genuine smile. Alas, someone was treating him like one of humankind!

Sehun grins back at him. “Sweet. I’ma teach you all you need to know.”

“Gee thanks!”

“I gotchu,” Sehun does the finger gun thing. “Baekhyun’s gonna be so jealous.” He snickers but before Chanyeol could ask what he means for the second time in barely a minute, goes on, “I’ma go finish up the plates, then I’ll be back to help you.”

“Thanks man.” Chanyeol says again, truly grateful.

Sehun does the finger thing once more and walks away, half twerking to ‘slob on my knob’ that booms loudly over the stereo.

--

   Chanyeol can’t help but feel awkward hovering around section six as Sehun goes table to table taking orders. ‘Table touching’ he had called it. He squats to talk to customers, being tall as a teenage tree and all. Chanyeol takes note to do the same when he finally gets to be a server.

He observes the sweet eye-smile Sehun almost robotically has on his face like a mask. With every word he says to the guests, the smile is there. Then the moment’s over and Sehun rushes him to the side.

“I just fucking got slammed the host is such a cunt,” Sehun whispers loudly. “Tao’s lucky I got side and sauce setups or I’d beat his ass.” Sehun takes a deep breath appearing to do some practiced meditation breathing as Chanyeol sends a prayer to whoever this Tao guy is. “Anyway, here’s a list. You memorized the table numbers right?”

Chanyeol wants to say he barely gave the four by two section map a spare glance opting to inconspicuously peek at the written numbers on the table but nods instead. “Yup.” He says confidently.

“Awesome.” Sehun rips a piece of paper from his notepad. “Thirteen rice total and don’t forget the forks and all that extra shit these bitches asked for.”

“Okay.” Chanyeol can barely comprehend Sehun’s chicken scratch handwriting but okay.

Sehun salutes him, patting him on the shoulder. “Thanks hyung.”

Feeling good about himself at the respectful term, Chanyeol gets to work.

The first slam is a breeze. Twenty minutes in, Sehun pulls Chanyeol aside again and gestures to the section much in the way Mufasa did in the Lion King when he was explaining Pride Rock.

“You see this? This is the chill stage. Everyone’s chilling,” he dramatically points at random guests. “She’s chilling. He’s chilling. They’re chilling so we’re chilling,” Sehun smiles looking like a proud father. “They got their first round of meats and their drinks,” he pauses, squinting at a cloud of smoke. “Actually. Have you ever changed a grill before?

“No…” Chanyeol answers slowly secretly hoping it would never have to come to this. Grill changing anxiety was real.

Sehun claps a hand on his shoulder.

“You gon learn today.”

It’s a terrifying experience, being in control of people’s lives by the burning hot grill in your hands, trying to make sure no dumbass accidentally touches it or moves in the way. You gotta be a hundred and one percent aware of your surroundings. Chanyeol now understands why most servers yelling hot grill look intense and stressed, near death experiences and all.

The new grill slams down atop the burner and the customers are amazed. Chanyeol’s amazed at himself too.

“Thank you!” They say enthusiastically. Chanyeol smiles as beads of nervous sweat form and drip down his face.

“HOT GRILLLLLLLLLLLLLL.” He screeches as he walks. “Hotgrillhotgrillhotgrill CORNER.” He makes it to the dish pit and drops off the grill. Success, he thinks.

When he turns around, Baekhyun’s leaning against the wall, sipping on his straw with what looks to be soda. Or it could be Hennessey again who knows.

“Good job,” Baekhyun tells him but despite the compliment sounds sarcastic as hell.

Chanyeol nods in a half bow and rushes out. Damn Baekhyun looked good. He must have just clocked in because he was sans apron and full view of sexy hips and – Chanyeol chances a double take and yep. Baekhyun had a nice ass. It wasn’t really a surprise. All his personality traits just screamed ‘I can act like this because I have a nice ass’.

When nine pm rolls around, Chanyeol’s previous assumption that things would slow down is shoved down his throat. The wait is at two hours, the lobby is swamped, no one’s gone on their break, and Chanyeol doesn’t even have time to spare to take a much needed piss.

Sehun’s warped into a military commander, barking orders with a hot flush on his face and sleeves rolled all the way up.

“Tao’s slamming me for fun,” Sehun pants, eyes narrowed to slits, pretending his hands are binoculars as he glares straight into Tao’s being at the host stand. “That asshole. There’s other sections open too you know but he doesn’t care. Too lazy to walk to the other side of the damn restaurant. Ugh, fuck this shit.” Sehun looks on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Chanyeol feels bad that he couldn’t make things easier for him. As far as hes concerned runners are there to allow the server more time with their tables.

“I’m sorry,” Chanyeol apologizes.

“Nah you’re good. We’re just understaffed. Like severely understaffed. No one’s bussing the tables. No one’s changing the grills fast enough. And last but not least, no one’s running the food.  When the kitchen gets backed up, we’re all fucked.” Sehun looks at his ipad. “It’s been more than ten minutes. I gotta get table sixty five’s meats. Shit, I haven’t even gotten their drinks yet. Can you grab them some waters at the bar?”

“Got it!”

Chanyeol’s never actually gotten drinks for tables before. He’s never even met the bartender. The bar zone is another battlefield altogether. A bunch of drinks are on the black mats atop the red marble counter. Tickets are sloppily stuck on the side of the glass, labeling the drink, server name, table, and even the time. Some are from twenty minutes ago. That wasn’t good. Chanyeol moves into action, grabbing six water glasses and puts them on the circular tray, praying he won’t drop this shit as soon as he runs it.

He’s pouring the water and ice, half missing as he tries to multi task and shove straws into each cup.

When he’s done with the pitchers, a dark looming presence that’s impressive from a rather short guy makes itself known.

“Are you not capable of the simple task of placing empty pitchers to the right side of the bar?” Kyungsoo, his name tag reads, apparently the bartender, says calmly but with a cut throat icy tone. His big eyes beat Chanyeol’s own wide ones.

“My bad.” Chanyeol says distractedly nearly spilling a glass of water.

“Put the empty pitchers on the right side of the bar.”

Chanyeol does as he told and gets another scolding. “My right,” Kyungsoo emphasizes.

Chanyeol wants badly to answer back because he did not clarify that but he bites his tongue and does as he’s told.

He barely hears a ‘behind you’ of a familiar voice as he’s lifting his tray of glasses and if Baekhyun hadn’t swerved left when Chanyeol turned around a full on wet collision would have taken place.

“I said behind you,” Baekhyun snaps at him.

Chanyeols pouting now, tired of getting yelled at. “I didn’t hear you.” He says under his breath not making eye contact.

“Then fucking listen next time. Your ears are big enough.”

Chanyeol’s taken aback at the unsolicited insult. R00d, he thinks.

He miraculously makes it back to section six without spilling his tray, and drops the drinks off at 65.

They’re a group of young guys around their early 20’s all dressed fashionably in snapbacks and hoodies. There’s a few bottles of soju and giant Hite bottles already on their table despite having just got seated not too long ago. Must have started drinking during the wait time.

“Yo thanks!” One of them with bunny teeth and an innocent boy-next-door face whoops. Buzzed, Chanyeol observes.

“No problem.”

“Are you a server too?”

“Where’s Sehun?”

“I’m hungry!”

“Is Jin hyung working today?”

Chanyeol’s bombarded with questions and suddenly feels overwhelmed. Maybe he isn’t suited for server life. Having to actually be constantly interacting with tables no with strangers basically... hungry strangers. Drunk strangers.

“Sehun’s getting your food, guys.” Chanyeol says politely. “And I’m not sure who Jin hyung is. Sorry.”

“Aw man! No hooks up today.”

“It’s his birthday!”

“Can you sing for him?”

“Shut the fuck up!” the one who’s birthday it apparently was hisses. He’s a really pale slim guy on the very end of the booth near Chanyeol. He seems to be consumed by his oversized black hoodie and looks miserable but chill at the same time.

“But Yoongi-hyung! You get pineapples!”

“I loathe pineapples, Jimin.”

Jimin frowns as ‘Yoongi hyung’ stabs at a spicy radish banchan.

Another male on the opposite of the end of the booth tugs at Chanyeol’s sleeve. His melanin is popping and he’s got a video game character slash manga boy look about him along with a quite charming box shaped smile. “Can you guys sing for him later? His name is Yoongi, say he’s turning 87 years old.”

“I can hear you, Taehyung,” Yoongi seethes. “I’m not 87 years old.”

“Then stop acting like it!”

Chanyeol finds himself with the plastered on robotic smile like Sehun earlier and finally understands why. Customers be so needy and they all talk at once! He couldn’t imagine what it’d be like if it was a bigger party, or when they were ordering side dishes. Shudder. He wishes badly for Sehun to pop up and take him away from all this… this… customer service.

“Don’t mind them. They’ve had a few,” a smooth voice from the far end of the table says. This guy looks more mature and notably more sober than the others. His silver hair peeks out beneath a black beanie with the letters RM. “Just checking up but no rush or nothing, do you know if our food’s coming? We’re famished.”

“Oh! Yeah lemme go check in the kitchen for you.” Chanyeol’s right about to flee the scene when he sees Sehun approaching with 2 trays in hand. Full hands in full hands out yo. He passes one to Chanyeol and steps into the limelight.

“Hey guys! Sorry about that! I had to run some food but I’m back and I got your order! Yay!” Sehun drops the food one by one with lightning speed. “Beef bulgogi, double order brisket, beef belly, and spicy calamari.” He turns gracefully and grabs at the food in Chanyeol’s tray. “Also the appetizers, popcorn chicken, fried calamari and  japchae.”

Jimin is about to open his mouth to say something but Sehun cuts him off. “Don’t worry your soondooboois on the way. Just about 5 min, okay? They gotta make sure the soup is nice and hot for you! Sorry about that!”

“No, it’s okay! Thank you!”

Sehun walks Chanyeol away and sighs. “Thanks for taking care of them. Theyre regulars. Young but they tip pretty fat. Rare for millenials let me tell you that. Jin’s friends though. Before you ask, Jin’s main cashier. He’s off today. I’m surprised he’s not with them – ”

“— it’s the Yoongi guy’s 87th birthday.” Chanyeol blurts before he forgets.

Sehun laughs. “Oh god. He’s gonna kill us for singing. I’m so excited. This is gonna be fun. I’ma send in the pineapples in about 45 minutes.”

“Why pineapples?”

“We don’t have any birthday specials here but we do give a free plate of pineapples and sing.”

“Oh.”

“It’s better than nothing.” Sehun shrugs. “Anyway, once I get those, I want you to ask everyone available to do a birthday for us.”

“Copy that.” Chanyeol salutes. Sehun grins.

“You’re doing great by the way.”

Chanyeol grins back.

--

    Time passes differently inside EXO Korean BBQ house. One second it’s five pm the next it’s been three and a half hours. It’s a bit insane and almost feels like Chanyeol is in a whole other world completely. Hence, the forty five minutes until the birthday comes in the blink of an eye.

The adrenaline rush is definitely hitting Chanyeol by this point.

Sehun’s been reminding him a catchy but kinda lame ‘teamwork really makes the dreamwork’ with every checkbook he obsessively opens once the table is out the door, never failing to grin borderline maniacally at the 25% tip they’ve been getting.

“Bless,” Sehun cheers. “Suho better give me a strawberry soju cocktail for this.”

Chanyeol laughs. “I wouldn’t mind that either.”

“Yeah sure you deserve a shot! You’ve done well Yeollie. Can I call you that? Do people call you that?”

“Not really but it’s fine.” Tbh Chanyeol hated that nickname bc wtf. “As long as I get to call you Sehunnie.”

“Nevermind.”

They share another laugh and then lo and a behold, a random fellow server pops out.

“Hi Chen.” Sehun chirps. “Whatcha got there?”

“Your birthday pineapples, bitch.”

“Damn you stay on them birthday pineapples.”

“Well when you got vocals such as I then yes. You never know when you’ll get discovered and if it’s through singing happy birthday at a restaurant then so be it,” his finely chiseled jawbones are more pronounced as a foxy grin spreads across his face. He turns to Chanyeol. “Hi. Don’t believe we’ve met. New guy right?”

“Yeah that’s me. New guy.”

“Ha you’re funny. I like you, new guy.”

“Watch out. He says that to everyone he think he can take advantage and manipulate into doing his dirty work,” Sehun warns playing around on his ipad.

“Hey!”  Chen interjects. Chanyeol grins, feeling more at home and part of the EXO fam now. It was a good feeling.

“Anyway. Birthday time. Get like two or three more people, okay? And maybe a clean grill so you can bang on that shit and get everyone’s fucking attention.” Sehun dictates.

“On my way.”

Chanyeol speeds around the restaurant looking for non-busy folks. Fail – everyone basically says no or ignores him when he asks, sad face. Alright then, so maybe not quite part of the EXO fam yet.

He bumps into Baekhyun unintentionally. A cute shocked ‘ah!’ leaves Baekhyun’s mouth, and seriously it’s so cute but almost sexual that Chanyeol’s face burns. Wild, wild thoughts.

“Say ‘behind you’!” Baekhyun practically shouts at him looking scandalized. Chanyeol just stares, a bit flabbergasted at the feisty little thing Baekhyun was. A loud huff. “What do you want?”

“Birthday?” Chanyeol finally remembers his mission in life.

“Ugh,” Baekhyun rolls his eyes. “Fine. Come on.”

Chanyeol can’t help the big goofy smile on his face at Baekhyun actually agreeing to do something nice for him well technically for Sehun but still. Progress, people.

They weave through the crowd of servers and customers alike with the grace of a seasoned employee. For once in Chanyeol’s life his clumsy demeanor is absent. Maybe actually putting a conscious effort to stop fucking up was all it took. Or maybe motivation. He stares at Baekhyun’s fluffy blonde hair and swears he can catch a whiff of mild sweet cologne. Of course Baekhyun probably had magical powers to still remain bulgogi and kalbi scent free even halfway through his shift. This guy was just way too attractive for his own good. Chanyeol is wondering ridiculously what his zodiac sign is when Baekhyun abruptly stops.

Chanyeol crashes right into him just as Baekhyun throws his hand behind him to stop Chanyeol albeit a little too late. His hand lands directly where the sun don’t shine, against Chanyeol’s groin or in Layman terms – full on dick smack. Ouch.

Chanyeol groans, low and pained and would very much like to keel over at his premature demise, but with the intertia still in full effect, he stumbles into Baekhyun’s shoulder instead. This brings him right against Baekhyun’s ass and despite just getting hit down there, feels his cock twitch as blood rushes down. Oh no noono.

“Can you watch out?” Baekhyun asks as if it was his fault and blatantly ignoring what he had done to Chanyeol’s family jewels.

“I am sorry.” Chanyeol dryheaves, seeing stars.

Still in the midst of getting it together, Chanyeol sees a server in front of Baekhyun pulling back after replacing a burnt grill from the table right in front of them. So that’s what caused this random traffic jam in the first place. Then Baekhyun’s peering back at him.

“Are you okay?” Baekhyun asks with an amused smirk.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He’s not.

Baekhyun looks down for a brief moment then back up into Chanyeol’s eyes again. “That was your thing wasn’t it?”

OH my god, Chanyeol thinks. Is he seriously asking that right now?! Freakin’ specifically and shit? Chanyeol doesn’t know what to say! And he’s sure his face is red as a tomato.

“I – it – “

Baekhyun laughs again. The second time Chanyeol’s got him to and the 77% chance of never being able to have children due to untimely hot grill induced dick smacks seems worth it.

“Well get used to it,” Baekhyun advises. “It happens a lot here.”

Chanyeol has no idea why the hell that is a thing that happens a lot here and truthfully that’s a little scare and almost enough to make him turn in his two weeks but then Baekhyun’s snickering giving Chanyeol reason to believe this little shit was just fucking with him. Heck, that was probably on purpose. They finally make it to section six, Chanyeol speechless the whole way not trusting himself to not blurt out WHY YOU HIT MY DICK and dramatically explain it has feelings too, you know.

Sehun, Chen and a few others have already appeared to have gathered around table sixty five.

“FINALLY!” Sehun shouts.

“Shut up,” Baekhyun says with no bite.

“His name is Yoongi,” Sehun tells everyone then they’re in a single file line of tall men in black looking like a squad. Gang gang.

Sehun suddenly bends down and brings his hand to his mouth as he booms,

“Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee we got a birthday.”

“AYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WE GOT A BIRTHDAY!” the rest of group echos almost deafeningly. Table sixty joins in, cheering madly looking incredibly shit faced.

“Hey everyone we got a birthday in the house. His name is Yoongi and he’s turning 87 years old today!” the crowd laughs as Yoongi looks absolutely livid, mortified, and tipsy all at the same time. He sinks down into his seat. Sehun’s got the pineapples in front of him and three hands reach out with torch lighters lighting up almost comically. “Let’s all sing him happy birthday!”

Chanyeol thinks he’s singing loud but it’s drowned out by the whole crowd. It’s a bit moving, hearing everyone sing. Strangers who don’t even know you all singing and helping you feel special on your birthday. It was making Chanyeol weirdly sentimental. The added ‘WOO’ with every line also made it fun and silly. Chen apparently wasn’t lying about his vocal skills. Hella extra but damn. People were loving it even as he did an unsolicited high note of Yoongi’s name in the background for no real reason.

Chanyeol’s enjoying the whole scene unfolding when he finally hears Baekhyun singing. If he wasn’t already sprung off his ass for the guy he would be now. Even though it’s quite a ruckus in there, he can clearly hear him and if that wasn’t the loveliest sound he’s heard in his life... he doesn’t realize he’s staring, captivated, until Baekhyun turns his head and catches his gaze.

His eyes are lit up from all the flames of the torch lighters, red orange embers dancing in his dark irises and Chanyeol cannot fathom how anyone can be so heartstoppingly divine. He’s effortlessly gorgeous and he’s more beautiful than the moment.

Its over too fast. There’s yelling, clapping, some howling and a random ass Lil Jon style YEEEEEEEEEEA-YUHHHHHHHHHH.

The rest of the servers disperse just as quickly as they assimilated.

Sehun’s just finished having a conversation with table sixty five – all chanyeol heard was soju cocktails on the house – and then he finds himself huddled in a nearby corner, Sehun on his left and Baekhyun on his right.

“How is he?” Baekhyun asks Sehun, and Chanyeol realizes he’s referring to him but straight up acting like he wasn’t there.

Sehun gives a thumbs up with no hesitation. “Good! He’s good.”

“Hm,” Baekhyun doesn’t look convinced. “I wouldn’t know. Never had him.”

“Yet!” Sehun gestures almost lazily at Chanyeol. “Do you want him?”

The question is about serving and running but geez it sounds weird and questionable and makes Chanyeol’s cheeks burn a little at the words if taken out of context.

“I’m good,”  Baekhyun says flippantly, but then he moves up against Chanyeol, real close, so close it brings his soft looking lips millimeters away from Chanyeol’s collar as he looks up at him. “He’s all yours.”

Chanyeol can’t meet his gaze, his eyes drop to those kissable lips, he can’t stop staring at them. Baekhyun licks said lips, wetting them probably because its’ so smoky in here so they had a tendency to get chapped but haha was that not sexual as fuck? Or so help me. Or help Chanyeol. Yeah Chanyeol needs help. Baekhyun’s really making him question his morals because his presence alone is enough to get Chanyeol junior stirring in the confines of his slacks.

“You owe me again.” Is all Baekhyun says but in a quite voice intended for only Chanyeol to hear. Then he’s walking away without sparing him another glance.

Chanyeol feels frozen to the spot but hot all over.

God, Baekhyun…. He was so damn fine, fuhhhhhhhhh. FUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

“Soooooooooooo,” Sehun raises an eyebrow slowly, arms crossed, seemingly picking up on the thicc sexual tension lingering in the air. “Wanna run for him?”

“Huh?” Chanyeol’s still out of it.

“Baekhyun. He doesn’t like to admit it but he needs a runner sometimes. I seen his section burning because he’s too busy flirting with customers.” Sehun picks at a fingernail.

“What makes you think I want to run for him?” Chanyeol gets defensive, feeling a bit ashamed at being so easy to read.

Sehun rolls his eyes. “Please like I haven’t seen the way you look at him. He’s got the same effect on half the human population.”

“Are you saying I look at him?”

“Yes, Sherlock Holmes.”

“I don’t look at him,” Chanyeol denies hurriedly.

“Relax,” Sehun laughs. “I’m not gonna tell him. Though he probably already knows. But I can request Suho to put you on the floor plan as a runner for him.”

“Would that really be a good idea…”

“Sure! One of the things about EXO, is we are one! There’s no front of the house or back of the house we are all one. We like to make sure we’re a team and that we can work well together. This will be the perfect opportunity to develop a good relationship with Baekhyun hyung. He’s an amazing server. He makes the most tips every shift. You can learn a lot from him.”

Develop a good relationship? Chanyeol’s got different things in mind. Shit. nooo. Can’t think that way. Unresolved sexual tension will not help this situation.

“I don’t know... he doesn’t seem to like me very much.” Chanyeol  sighs piling up a few empty plates.

“Nonsense!” Sehun booms throwing his hand up for emphasis and nearly smacking a guest in the face as he does so. He leans closer. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you too.” He winks and goes back to table touching.

Chanyeol bites his lip, eyes searching for Baekhyun through the busy bustling restaurant. His heart stops, then skips several beats and refuses to go back to normal when he sees the object of his desire staring back.

--

    Chanyeol goes home that night with more than house tip. His first runner tip out. Sehun had been generous. Fifty bucks is pretty good for a tip out. Most runners only get 10% but Sehun said he had kicked ass and was a natural and I quote ‘would be serving in no time.’

Jongin’s still up at their shared one bedroom. He’s in the living room which is technically his area of the apartment, six beers deep, still in his pajamas, and playing Monster Hunter.

“Yo.”

“Whaddup.”

“Tired as shit,” Chanyeol kicks off his shoes.

“You smell like straight up Korean samgyubsal dude,” Jongin scrunches his nose.

“And you smell like bad life decisions,” Chanyeol eyes the empty pack of beer and the half full bottle of jameson. “What’s the occasion?”

“Midterms over. Got a D. I’m celebrating.” Jongin shrugs. “Wanna join me?”

“Wow you finally got the D.”

“That joke is as old as your virginity.”

“I am not –  “

Okay, but he is. Was it weird??? He’s like twenty four… he may have never had a real relationship before but that doesn’t mean something was wrong with him! Was it his fault if his three focuses in life growing up was family, school, and gaming?! ‘Scuse him if he never took the time to hoe around. Matter of fact,  a lot of girls and even guys found Chanyeol attractive. Things just… never worked out. And and and it’s not like he was a pure holy virgin angel nun or something! No he’s seen a boobie or two. He’s definitely  kissed before; drunken make outs reign supreme in the formative college years. So yeah! He was like Mother Theresa on the hood of a Mercedes Benz. Innocent, but not thaaaaaaaaat innocent... or something. Damn, it’s hard to defend his honor. Deciding vehemently in his mind, this was HIS choice and it’s totally normal and ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE HIM and he’s actually lucky because he is waiting for someone special, Chanyeol gets back to the subject at hand.  DRINKING.  Chanyeol doesn’t know why the hell not he wouldn’t. His body is aching all over and the exhaustion is starting to set in. A beer or two sounded wonderful. He opts to take a quick shower to get the stench of bulgogi off him but the quick shower turns in to a twenty minute jacking off session.

Dark eyes, light hair, the hottest piece of ass he’s ever seen…

And an aggressive but beautiful and intoxicating Baekhyun telling Chanyeol to fuck him harder.

“Ah fuck,” Chanyeol hisses as he comes everywhere. What a huge load.

If Sehun’s true to his word and gets Chanyeol as a runner for Baekhyun, it’s gonna take a lot of pre shift jizz sessions to stop the inevitable boners a certain server will give him.

Chanyeol ignores the beer and goes straight for the hard liquor, hating how everything was more and more reminding him of someone he’s only known for a few days and didn’t really respect him but was slowly taking over his existence.

“You good?” Jongin slurs, looking worried but mostly drunk.

Chanyeol gives him two thumbs up and reaches for the controller.

--

  Running for Baekhyun turns out to be as sexually frustrating as Chanyeol’s fantasies predicted it to be.

At first, the animosity was strong.

“Who said you could run for me?” Baekhyun had asked when Chanyeol was clocking in fumbling with his apron trying not to stare at Baekhyun’s ass. “I don’t need a runner.”

“Am I running for you?” Chanyeol asks innocently, deciding to play dumb like he did not know that that was the original plan Sehun had made last night.

That gets Baekhyun shoving the PM floor plan to Chanyeol’s face. “What does it say?”

“Oh. I guess I am.” Chanyeol gulps nervously. Why the hell was Baekhyun so worked up, sheesh. “I can just not run for you, if you want…”

“And have Suho up my ass? No thanks,” Baekhyun pauses, a thoughtful look on his face. He steps closer. “Are you even good?”

“W-what,” Chanyeol stammers at the close proximity. Baekhyun’s breath smells just like the minty gum he was chewing.

“Are you good?”

“Uh, Sehun said I was good.”

“Sehun also said you wanted to fuck me,” Baekhyun says with a roll of his eyes and it’s not sure if its jokingly or sarcastically, if it was a test, or what.

Chanyeol opens his mouth to say something, he doesn’t even know what there is to say to that but then Baekhyun goes on.

“Anyways, I want you close to me at all times. Bother me. Ask me what I need. I don’t wanna see you running off helping others. If someone else asks you for something, ignore them. You’re my runner, so you run only for me. Do you understand that?” Baekhyun’s speech sounds like a weird bdsm euphemism but Chanyeol nods repeatedly to every word he says.

“Okay,” Baekhyun’s voice is sweet. He must have a thing for telling people what to do. “Let’s go then.” There he goes again…

“ESKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETIT!” Someone yells from the dish pit, adding comedy to the otherwise tense moment.

Chanyeol follows behind Baekhyun, eyes trying not to enjoy the view too much.

He’s failing miserably though. He keeps glancing down – down at Baekhyun’s ass. Ugh. He’s so sexy. He wants to reach out and touch it. But he’s sure Baekhyun wouldn’t appreciate that so he keeps his hands to himself. It’s getting impossible to keep his thirst lowkey when Baekhyun’s around though and Baekhyun being all nice and cordial isn’t helping. Chanyeol knows it’s simply because he’s basically his slave today and tips depend on how well they perform as a tag team duo.

But… like…

Baekhyun is touchy feely as fuck.

It’s half way through the dinner rush when Chanyeol begins to reach his limits. Baekhyun wasn’t like this the first few hours, but in the next few hours that followed Chanyeol noticed Baekhyun’s been on three bathroom breaks which were probably not for peeing but for chugging more of his personal. Each time he returns, his breath no longer smells of minty gum but instead pure alcohol of the cognac variety.

And the alcohol definitely loosens Baekhyun up.

It’s small and subtle gestures that Chanyeol doesn’t notice at first. Baekhyun constantly asks if he’s okay, but in a sweet touchingly concerned tone with matching sincerity in his beautiful perfect eyes. Second, he keeps thanking Chanyeol and using the word ‘please’ when he needs something. That was doing bad things to Chanyeol’s mind but let’s not go there. It’s little things like this that’s got Chanyeol feeling like he’s gonna spontaneously combust. Now when Baekhyun asks for something, he leans in so close, the way he looks up at Chanyeol with a smile, the same smile Chanyeol knows is the fake sweet robotic smile all servers do but to have it directed at him from Baekhyun – shit’s got him weak. Baekhyun is cute, sexy and irresistible. He’s charming when he wants to be and not only using it on his tables but he’s using it on Chanyeol too. And Chanyeol doesn’t really know why. He hopes there’s more to it thant the alcohol talking.

“Chanyeollie,” Baekhyun tugs him to the side station and proceeds to eliminate the space between them, bringing their chest right against each other as he moves his mouth to Chanyeol’s ear. It seems to be done in an effort to get his words to reach Chanyeol since it’s extremely loud in the restaurant at the moment but wasn’t this a bit much?

“Y-yes??”

“I need you,” Baekhyun breathes against his neck. So so wrong, Chanyeol thinks. That sounds so wrong. Ugh. He swallows hard.. Baekhyun continues. “If you didn’t know,” he murmurs, “We just got slammed. I’ve taken all their drink orders, and I can get the rice and side dishes but I want you to get the drinks. Can you do that for me?”

Chanyeol’s heart is racing. It’s hammering so loudly in his chest at how close Baekhyun is to him, Chanyeol doesn’t think its possible for his heart to beat this rapidly but here we are.

“Okay, I’ll get it.” Chanyeol tries stepping back but he’s trapped against the wall.

Baekhyun looks up at him. They’re within kissing distance for crying out loud. There’s a pink flush high on Baekhyun’s cheekbones, another give away he certainly has been drinking. He looks adorable… and so doable. Shit.

“Thanks,” Baekhyun’s sultry gaze drops down to Chanyeol’s lips. Chanyeol thinks it’s his imagination he swears it is but nope, Baekhyun’s hella staring right at his mouth. “I owe you,” He says slowly and just as slowly drags his gaze back up to meet Chanyeol’s eyes again. Then he licks his lips and smiles. “Go.”

Chanyeol’s temporarily stunned into the side station even minutes after Baekhyun saunters back to section seven.

Shit. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Chanyeol can’t feel his legs. He can’t feel anything but the shameful tug of arousal pooling in all sorts of heated desperation and lust around his lower stomach and groin. He’s never felt this turned on. He never wanted someone this much. Baekhyun could probably burn his ass with a hot grill and he’d still wanna hit that. This was getting out of control.

“Are you okay?” Sehun asks him at the bar as Chanyeol robotically fills 16 glasses of water on one tray.

“Yes.”

“That’s a lot of waters.”

“Yes.”

“Baekhyun making you do all the hard labor huh?”

Chanyeol snaps. “What exactly is his deal anyway?”

Sehun looks amused. “Watcha mean?”

“Why is he so. He’s acting different today.”

“Probably drunk. He always drinks on the job when he has a runner.”

“I know he’s drunk or whatever. But like. I’m getting whiplash here. One second he’s – but then. Ugh. Is he usually, you know. Like that…?” Chanyeol makes wild gestures that don’t mean shit.

Sehun snickers. “The fuck?”

Chanyeol doesn’t know how to say it. He’s probably trippin’, this is wishful thinking and Baekhyun isn’t making moves or seducing him, he’s just being nice and Chanyeol’s taking it the wrong way because everyone’s kind of a dick here and speaking of dicks apparently his is a poor depraved soul that needs some bad.

“Nevermind,” he says instead feeling stupid. He distractedly grabs sixteen straws and starts stabbing them into the water.

A laugh from Sehun. “Oh boy. Don’t tell me he’s already got you all riled up? It’s been three hours.”

Yeah three hours of nonstop touches – touches to Chanyeol’s bicep, lower back, and Baekhyun had a habit of backing up into Chanyeol I’m talking ass to groin and remaining in that position while he tells him what to do. To ‘overlook his section’ most likely but WTF. Who talks to people in that position? Baekhyun that’s who. Chanyeol’s already practiced blaming any felt hardness on his ipad in his apron pocket if anything were to pop up. Which it almost did… many times. Chanyeol was having a record of how many semis he can get in one day.

Shaking his head, he lets out a frustrated groan, the most distraught emotions he’s ever shown at EXO. “He’s hella on me,” Chanyeol blurts feeling dumb again and very teenage boy.

Sehun stirs a strawberry lemonade. “Uh yeah. That’s Baekhyun. You should be happy though.  It really seemed like he hated your guts but now it looks like he’s tryna get you up in his. Teambuilding!”

Somehow Chanyeol doesn’t think hoeing around with your coworkers means team building but sure. Let’s go with that.

He decides not to say anything more. Can Sehun even really be trusted? All the servers here seem to have a dark side. It was like an anime where all the heroes have an alter ego or some shit.

Dropping off the drinks is like the hard level of a roblox obstacle course. Everyone’s literally in the damn way even on a Sunday evening. No one seems to care when he says behind you. Chanyeol was steadily heading towards his first EXO mental breakdown.

“There you are,” Baekhyun calls out heading towards Chanyeol once the drinks were all set. “Are you ok?”

“Yes. Hi.” Chanyeol says through gritted teeth. Baekhyun may as well be the devil in disguise. All the sins in Chanyeol’s mind were making him want to drown himself in some holy water. He didn’t get it. He’s never usually like this. It was making him a bit disgusted with himself.

“I’m going on my thirty. Can you watch over the section?” Baekhyun strokes Chanyeol’s arm as he asks. What the fuck –

“Yeah I can do that. Is everyone good right now.”

“Mhm.” Baekhyun gestures to a party of sixteen. “I know those guys. They’re hella chill. They shouldn’t give you any trouble. I’ve already told them I’m going on break. So just 74 or 75 arent part of their group. 74 are harmless little ahjumma’s, charm them with your dimple. The other is a group of thots, charm them with your deep voice, maybe act like you wanna bone them or something.” Baekhyun explains quickly then pulls Chanyeol down by the collar, “ – but don’t actually do that.” He glares playfully then nearly gives Chanyeol a heartattack as he shoves his ipad into Chanyeol’s apron pocket which is oh you know, right near his crotch. Dear god, Chanyeol thinks. “You got this!”

Then he’s off, and heading towards the back room.

--

    Chanyeol doesn’t notice it’s Baekhyun at the party of sixteen until 8 minutes later. He’s got a burgundy windbreaker on over his uniform and he’s pulled up a chair right next to an extremely good looking mofo that makes up head count number one in the cockfest of chinese dudes at the table. Chanyeol had to admit, the guy had the face of a model and he looked tall too if his giant yaoi hands were anything to go by. He was also a blonde, dyed and dirty with an undercut that looked fresh. This guy must get haircuts every two weeks to maintain that shit. Do you even know how much haircuts cost these days?! This guy’s loaded. There was no other explanation. His resting bitch face only disappeared into a gummy smile whenever they raised their soju bombs to cheers or when Baekhyun opened his mouth.

Baekhyun was clearly lit by this point, he had taken way too many shots of the cocktail and the soju bombs. Chanyeol didn’t know if it was jealousy that was pissing him off or the blatant disregard to the rules. Then he sees Baekhyun massaging the Ballin Bi-weekly Haircut guy’s thigh from under the table as he giggles and Chanyeol nearly walks out. What. A fucking. Hoe.

“Excuse me, can we get a grill change please?” one of the girls from the table of thots ask sweetly, batting her fake lashes.

“Okay.” Chanyeol lifelessly grabs a clean grill from the side station making sure to mean mug Baekhyun's fine ass man friend as he does so. He gets ignored, existence forgotten and sighs as he switches the grills at 74.

“Thank you! You’re the best!” the girls gush.

“No problem,” Chanyeol’s mastered the fake smile early in the game. He wonders how many smiles here were actually genuine because he knows his isn’t anymore. Can he have a fucking shot right now too?

Speak of the devil – Baekhyun looks up just as Chanyeol booms ‘hot grill’ like a war cry.

“Chanyeollie! Hey. Want a shot?” he offers as if he’s part of this table, not working or anything.

“No thanks.” Chanyeol says, pride stopping him.

“Come on, dude. Live a little.” The guy beside Baekhyun says, smiling. The fuck, why was he smiling? Once again – WERE ANY SMILES SINCERE HERE? The world may never know.

“I’m working,” Chanyeol says politely but it comes off harsh.

Baekhyun laughs. “Sorry guys. He’s new.”

“It’s cool. I respect his work ethics.”

“What about my work ethics?”

“What work ethics?”

Baekhyun hits him. It’s flirtatious. “Kris!” he whines. That was flirtatious too. Chanyeol’s eyes darken and he angrily moves away. KriiiiiiiiiSSssssss, his mind mocks.

They’re so casual with each other. Definitely fucking. Chanyeol wants to die. Why must all the good ones be hoes?

He drops off the dirty grill and notices the time. Hasn’t it been more than 30 min? Where the fuck was the manager? Did he not care?

He sneaks into the back to peer into the office and sees Sehun in there, back facing him talking to who was probably Suho.

“My schedule is fucked. I asked you for Wednesday off weeks ago!”

“Sehun, please calm down.”

“I’ve been waiting for so long but you’ve still never made the time. You suck!”

“Sehun – babe, please – ”

Babe? Woooooooooooooooah.

Realization dawns upon Chanyeol that this is most likely not a conversation he should be hearing. He’s about to slowly walk away like a ninja in the night but Sehun senses him and catches his eye. Shit. Chanyeol runs off.

He gets the check for 74 and 75. Takes orders for the other side of the party and even grabs rice for another servers section. By then Baekhyun is still straight chillin.

Chanyeol can’t stand anymore of this BS. He’s not gonna make a scene or anything he wasn’t the type. But his aura wasn’t something he could hide. He tended to wear his emotions on his sleeve and face. Baekhyun looks over and although shit faced seems to finally come back from whatever hell planet he was on right now.

He gets up. Kris guy tugs him.

“I have to go back now.”

“Just clock out. I’ll tip you your other two hours pay.”

“You’re gonna tip me it anyway,” Baekhyun sasses then walks off, but as he does he grabs Chanyeol by the sleeve without saying a single thing. Chanyeol’s forced to follow suit. They pass Chen in the expo line.

“Watch my section,” Baekhyun orders like a boss. Chen scowls but doesn’t decline. Damn was everyone Baekhyun’s bitch around this place.

Chanyeol’s about to ask where they’re going but it could only be one place seeing as he’s being dragged past the host stand, past the waiting area and there’s only one area to go here – the bathroom.

He’s sure Baekhyun is gonna yell at him for something or the other. The lobby has cleared out at least, so the bathroom is empty when he’s all but manhandled into it.

“Take your apron off.” Baekhyun commands instantly.

“Why?” Chanyeol asks defiantly.

“You can’t wear your apron in the bathroom, dumbass!” Baekhyun says loudly as if this was a piece of information passed on from generation to generation at an early infant age. Chanyeol doesn’t like it.

“Well my bad. I didn’t even know I was going to the bathroom.” Chanyeol mutters, feeling like a rebel. His heart beats wildly for even talking back.

Baekhyun ignores him, grabbing at the string of Chanyeol’s apron, right atop his crotch and undoing it himself.

“Whoa – “

“I said take it off.”

The apron is thrown in the little gold tub where clean towels are supposed to go below the sink. Baekhyun does the same for himself then grabs Chanyeol again and shoves him inside the stall. It isn’t until he’s locking it that Chanyeol’s alarm bells go off. Dude what was this. Was he gonna kill him? Omg.

“Baekhyun – “ Chanyeol starts.

“You are so fucking distracting.” Baekhyun growls once again putting hands on Chanyeol – pressing him against the cold marble wall behind him as the music booms around them.

“What? I’m sorry?“ Chanyeol’s adrenaline rush is waning, he feels dizzy and disoriented.

“You should be,” Baekhyun stares seriously at him. His cheeks are even more flushed, lips a kissable dark red from the strawberry soju cocktail. “I can’t work properly with you.”

Chanyeol feels his stomach flip. “I’m sorry…” he says sadly, anger forgotten just like that and suddenly feeling like a failure.

“Stop apologizing, you idiot.” Fact; Baekhyun even rolls his eyes while drunk. Noted. He also still looks damn good. Blonde bangs fall into his eyes as he shakes his head in unexplained frustration. “I mean I can’t work with you. Properly with you because I’m distracted. You’re distracting me and I NEVER get distracted.”

“Why are you distracted.” Chanyeol gets the question in, having a weird feeling about the direction this conversation was going.

“Because of you,” Baekhyun spits and his tone sounds disgusted, but he’s looking into Chanyeol’s eyes like he wants him. “All I can think about is getting you alone.”

Chanyeol’s mind goes blank.

Then races.

“What?” He’s blushing. He can’t not be blushing. What did Baekhyun just say? His cheeks are positively burning and he feels like the drunk one with how his brain isn’t functioning right now. Had he heard him correctly? Is he going crazy? Was he fantasizing? Is this real life?

“You know what I mean.” Baekhyun says this with confidence. “You seem innocent but you can’t be that innocent.” Of course no, for he was mother Theresa on the hood of a Mercedes Benz we went over this remember.  

“Umm,” Chanyeol is speechless, shook, and trying hard to make sense of the situation. “I think I know what you mean? B-but I’m not one hundred percent sure so I don’t want to assume anything.” Wow, talk about ruining the moment. Spoken like a true loser. Go chanyeol.

Baekhyun stares at him. He seems to be having a hard time understanding things at the moment too but at least he can blame it on the alcohol. “What? Are you telling me you don’t want me?”

“Um,” Whoa. Where that come from. He didn’t know how to say ‘yes I want joo’ without sounding like a complete fuckboy so instead opts for a, “Y-you’re very attractive.” Hurriedly with no swag, stammering as he does so, feeling a w k w a r d. No one says things like this out loud these days! Don’t fuck this up, his mind and libido screams at him. But at the same time… Baekhyun’s drunk isn’t he? Does he even know what he’s saying?

“I know,” Baekhyun nods with a slight daze eyed smirk. He’s cute af. “And you want me?”

“I do.” Chanyeol admits in a half whisper. He was scared to say it, to let Baekhyun know already but put on the spot like this he was more scared if Baekhyun thought the opposite. The truth shall set you free.

Baekhyun smiles looking extremely pleased with life. “Okay good.”

He presses against Chanyeol but unlike during their shift where Baekhyun would be close but not close enough no just a tease, this time – their bodies meet perfectly. Their height difference feels as though made for each other. Baekhyun rubs his lips into Chanyeol’s neck, placing wet kisses. Chanyeol can’t believe this is happening Chanyeol can’t even breathe.

“How do you want me?” Baekhyun asks tongue swirling around Chanyeol’s adam’s apple.

Chanyeol’s about to bust a nut forreal.

He’s hard already and its been two seconds since this physical shit even started. Baekhyun can probably feel it no Baekhyun can definitely feel it, there’s no way he can’t, plus he reaches down and squeezes, looking up to smile sweetly at Chanyeol. OH MY GOD –

“That was fast,” Baekhyun comments, stroking Chanyeol through his slacks.

“Ah – ! Ahhhh – fuck,” Chanyeol groans squeezing his eyes shut because this was all too stimulating and he didn’t trust himself not to come right then and there. WAS THIS REAL.

“That is the plan.” Baekhyun grins. “Do you have lube?”

“Wait.” Chanyeol snaps out of it. “Wait. Stop. We can’t … do this… here.”

“You don’t have lube?”

“No! I mean – “

“Then why not?”

There were a million reasons why not! Uh, they were on the clock? It was a filthy mens bathroom at their work for the love of god don’t tell him this did that not bother Baekhyun at all!

“You’re drunk.” Chanyeol says instead, trying not to think too much about how he missed Baekhyun’s lips against his neck already.

Baekhyun laughs. “I’m not that drunk.”

“You’re hella drunk,” Chanyeol says firmly and with great effort pushes Baekhyun off. He regrets it immediately when he sees the flash of hurt on Baekhyun’s face so he rushes to explain. “I don’t want to take advantage of you or anything.”

“Oh god.” Baekhyun rolls his eyes looking offended. His whole demeanor does a 360. He apparently isn’t used to getting ‘no’ for an answer. “Forget it! I should’ve known.”

“Known what?“

“That you are a pussy ass loser bitch noob. This never happened.”

“Baekhyun – what – “ He frowns, hurt. “I’m not a pussy bitch.”

“Pussy ass loser bitch noob,” Baekhyun corrects.

Chanyeol ignores it. “Listen, I do like you, I know we just met but I’ve never felt so strongly for someone before it’s weird and scary but all I know is I like you. You make me happy. I even liked running for you. Seeing you smile… “ Baekhyun’s staring at him with glassy eyes. He seems to have reached the drunk emotional stage of no return. Chanyeol gently puts a hand on his shoulder. “And of course I want you…” He decides to leave out the ‘nice ass’ part ( maybe some other time ) and continues with sincerity, “But this isn’t – you’re drunk. I don’t want it like this.” Chanyeol thinks he did a good job explaining himself but Baekhyun’s facial expression is devoid of anything but drunk anger and rejection.

“No, fuck it. You’re judging me like everyone in the fucking world does. And you’re lying just like everyone else too! So I’ll just go find someone else.” Baekhyun waves him off preparing to leave.

Chanyeol panics. “What the fuck – don’t do that!” Chanyeol shouts, a spike of jealousy and possessive ness and the image of Kris in his mind.

“Why the hell not? I can do whatever I want.”

“You should respect yourself. If you wanna do that, don’t just go to random people when youre drunk. You deserve more and youre better than that.”

Baekhyuns gaze is cold as death. “you don’t know me you don’t know anything. Fuck off. This was a mistake. You can go home. Like I said, I don’t need a runner.” Baekhyun turns his back and when chanyeol tries to grab him shoves chanyeol back with unrestrained anger and strength. Chanyeols back hits the wall. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

Baekhyun walks out after that leaving chanyeol alone in the bathroom. The music plays loudly. But chanyeol doesn’t hear anything but the harsh words replaying themselves in the his head.

He feels like hes been stabbed. Had he fucked up by saying no to baekhyuns advances? He think he did the right thing here. most guys would probably go for it, but this wasn’t okay. It was totally taking advantage if he did what Baekhyun wanted. Shit did Baekhyun even want him or was he the closest available hot blooded male? He didn’t wanna think if this was a normal thing Baekhyun did when hes had too much to drink or if Baekhyun had actually been feeling him.

He knows Baekhyun is more complex than what he lets people see. Most people act the way Baekhyun do if they’ve been hurt before and developed a guard around themselves to avoid being betrayed again. Trust issues and shit. chanyeol doesn’t know why hes so torn up about this because baehyun wasright he didn’t know him at all. But he just felt this strong connection to him. he really fucking like him… the few moments where he got to see Baekhyun smile and laugh made him happy and he didn’t know why. Shit feelings were really such a curse. This is why he stayed single like his whole damn life. Feelings just got in the way and made you depressed.

But Baekhyun…

He couldn’t stop these feelings even if he tried.

He has no idea what to do, he picks up his apron and wraps I around his waist. He looks at himself in the mirror. He looks flushed and sweaty and miserable. He splashes water on his face. It doesn’t help. He feels feverish and a little sick to his stomach the though of Baekhyun hating him.

He sees another apron and realizes Baekhyun forgot his. Hes picking it up when a piece of paper falls out.

To; chanyeol thanks for being an awesome runner. Drinks on me >.> I owe you, remember? 925 237 2372

~Baek