Chapter Text
One o’clock is the time of day when the normal world rests. That feeling of rest is only amplified by the cold air of winter. The death, or sleep, as Joe liked to call it, that the season brought. But with it came a feeling of rebirth for Joe, not many people had that association with winter but Ice Pick Joe did. It is in his name sake after all. And similar to that he had several of his namesakes hidden away on his bundled person along with an antique pistol from his mother. The old thing was more for show anyway. Geared for a fight and snow Ice Pick Joe made his way out to the new diner on the block, Midnight Burger.
“So let me get this straight,” Caspar said from behind the desk, his elbows propped up with his hands in front of his face.
“While I was in here doing paperwork,” he pointed towards the front of the diner “a mob boss-”
“Mafia Boss.” Leif corrected.
“But isn’t his name Russian?” Ava asked.
“Yeah, but we’re in Italy.” Leif said. Casper sighed.
“A Mafia boss came in and threatened us?” He dropped his hands and stood up from the chair, “Why did I miss out on all the fun?”
“Does no one else want to talk about how Casper was doing paperwork?” Gloria asked.
“That is not what we’re talking about here.”
“Yeah but like where does it come from? What type of paperwork does the diner even need?” Gloria pressed.
“Mm now I am curious about this paperwork myself.” Effie spoke up.
“Listen! It just shows up, and the guy who used to work at a DMV might as well do it!” Casper exclaimed. “Now what are we going to do about the mob-”
“Mafia.”
“Mafia boss!”
“Chill Casp.” Leif said, patting Caspar’s shoulder.
“Don’t call me that.”
“We talked macho to macho and it’s all good, we have until morning to go and guess what? That’s what was going to happen anyways!” Leif said. “Win win!”
“And you believe that the organized crime leader who threatened us was telling the truth?”
“I will have to agree with Caspar on that one, a man like that is not to be trusted.” Zebulon said.
“Yeah Goncher or whatever his name was is totally messing with you.” Ava agreed with Zebulon.
“Goncher?” Leif asked. “I know you guys are bad with names but come on, you even knew his name was Russian.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Oh my God.”
“Dearie,” Zebulon interrupted before a full squabble could break out “wouldn’t it be wise to lock up and close for the night?”
“Yes I do believe that would be wise my dear husband.”
“Great Gloria can you- where’s Gloria?” Three heads whipped around the makeshift office bedroom. Ava and Leif ran towards the front, leaving Caspar behind to lug the radio. They sighed in relief once they spotted Gloria. She was behind the bar smacking the side of the coffee maker.
“Come on you damn thing, work!”
At the bar was a patron watching her in what looked like amusement. They appeared to be a man. He might be tall if it weren’t for the way he hunched over at the bar stool. His large coat hiding his frame. The most notable thing though was an ice pick left laying on the bar for everyone to see. Gloria turned around to look at the sound of everyone barging in.
“Oh great Leif, can you get this thing working? I’m going to make some pancakes.”
“Pancakes?” The man gruffed.
“They’re free too.” Gloria reassured him. He nodded his gray eyes analyzing the newcomers. He bit his lip in consideration.
“Anyone else in this building?”
“Nope.” Gloria said with a smile. “Do you like blueberries?” He looked surprised. “Yes, I do like blueberries.”
“That’s good cause we don't have anything else.” She laughed. The man chuckled as well. Soon Caspar found himself in the kitchen making griddle while Gloria cooked pancakes. While he couldn’t hear anything over the gas stove, he kept looking up through the service window at the man.
“Stop staring, Casp.” Gloria said, knocking their shoulders together. This caused Caspar to stumble and drop a spatula.
“Hey!” He exclaimed. “I said to not call me that!”
“You look just as tense as him, lighten up!”
“Exactly, why is he so tense, why is he the only person here after we get threatened by a mafia boss!” Gloria stilled.
“He’s here for a cup of coffee?”
“And to murder us!” Caspar whispered harshly. “Also you’re giving food to him for free!”
“Yeah he’s got a point.” They both jumped at Leif’s sudden appearance. “The guy has an ice pick.”
“It’s snowing out there.” Gloria defended.
“It’s not snowing ice!” Caspar said.
“That’s literally what snow is!” Gloria exclaimed.
“Hey imbeciles!” The three turned to Ava who was now at the kitchen door. “More cooking and less arguing!” Back in the front the man eyed Ava. Ava sighed.
“Listen Mr. Mysterious-”
“Joe.” He corrected her.
“Right, so Joe, we here at Midnight Burger have been through a lot, and I wanted you to know that there is nothing we can’t handle.” Ava leaned against the counter next to him.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Depends, do you have any more sharp unconventional weapons hiding in your ridiculous jacket?” Ava snipped. Joe growled, his hand twitching.
“Food’s ready!” Gloria exclaimed. Breaking the staring contest the two were having. There was a comfortable silence for a while after that. Joe eating, Caspar washing dishes in the back, Leif sitting with Ava at her booth passing papers back and forth. Gloria after cleaning up from behind the bar cleared her throat.
“So…have any favorite movies Joe?”
“Movie?” He asked.
“Uh, stories.” Gloria corrected. She could hear Caspar’s exasperation from the kitchen.
“Just the one,” he hummed “my story.”
“That is very sweet actually,” Gloria took Joe’s empty plates “let’s hope you make a good story eh?”
“Yes.” He stood up from the barstool. “Let’s hope so.” He threw down some euros.
“Be gone by morning or,” he tapped the counter with the ice pick leaving several dents. “I’ll be here again.”
“Sure can do.” Gloria replied. Joe nodded in approval, his boots thudding as he made his way to the door, he switched the sign to closed. Halfway through the door he turned back and smiled.
“Thank you Gloria, I will try to make it a good one.” The bell above the door jingled and he was gone. After a few moments it was a loud crash from the kitchen that broke the silence.
“We all agree that this Joe has taken lives before, yes?” Zebulon asked.
“Oh, absolutely.” Effie said.
"He has a terrible taste in clothes." Ava said.
“Oh yeah that thing is not meant for ice.” Leif joked, Gloria smacked his shoulder. The door to the kitchen opened and all their eyes snapped towards it.
“I dropped a plate.” Caspar said coming out from the kitchen. "Thanks for all the help guys." He said sarcastically, hands on his hips.
“What did I miss?”