Chapter Text
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I yawn and push open the shiny glass door of the pizza place, sleepily walking inside. My coworker, Casey, who must have heard the bell of the door, called out to me from the back.
“I’ll be with you in a second!” He yelled. I huff and walk into the back, crossing my arms and looking at him. “It’s just me Casey,” I tilt my head. “Your usually waiting for me..?”
He laughs and rubs his arm. “Oh, Y/n, sorry I’ve just been.. out of it,” he sighs and leans on the locker next to mine. I look him up and down with a slightly worried expression, it wasn’t like him to be so pent up, but i would never say I care out loud.
“Well, how was the game?” I smirk and walk over to my rusted locker, flipping it open and glancing at him. He perked up slightly and grinned. “We kicked their asses, DUH!” He flexes a bicep with a cocky grin. I casually nod and grab my red apron, tying it around my waist. “If you won, why do you seem so butt hurt? That April chick reject you?” I
laughed a little at my snarky comment.
He pulled back a little at my words, his smile faulted a bit, he crosses his arms and glares at me slightly. “You think I have no chance with her, but you don’t have to rub it in my face,” he huffed with a slightly irritated tone. I closed my locker, my hand lingering on the cold handle.
“You know I was joking Casey, don’t act like that!” I smile and raise my brow. He slams his hand against the locker and leaned a bit closer to me, my breath caught in my throat slightly, the sudden aggression making me flinch. “No, it’s not a joke, Y/n! Jokes are funny, that’s NOT funny to me! Am I laughing? Have I ever laughed at that ‘joke’!?”
I curled away from him slightly, I’ve never been good with situations like this. I don’t like getting yelled at, I don’t know how to handle it. I’m only good at matching energy. I straighten up and lean in with a glare. “Well then maybe it wasn’t a joke. Maybe I was laughing at you, maybe your the joke Casey!” I glare at him.
His eyes soften slightly at my words, without saying anything he turns away from me and stomps out of the back room. I frown slightly realizing what I had said, it had really affected him, I went to apologize but the sound of the bell on the front door drowned out my thoughts. I stood there for a moment. Alone.
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I leaned forward on the wooden stool, setting the comic I had been reading on top of the cold counter when the phone rang. I let out an exasperated sigh, pulling the phone to my ear. “Hello, this is Antonio's Pizza-Rama,”
The sun was almost fully set below the horizon, with my mind wandering to dinner plans. the sun's rays illuminated the streets outside in shades of orange and pink. “Hello?” The voice range from the phone, I cleared my throat realizing I had zoned out. “I apologize, I’m here.” I replied leaning on the cold counter. “Can I help you?” “You can help me when you get your head out of your ass! Jesus, can’t even order a pizza.” The gruff voice rang through the phone, making me pull it away from my ear with a hiss.
“I need an Large pepperoni pizza.” He huffed. “Large pepperoni? Is that all sir?” I flipped through my comic, fiddling with the pages as I held the phone to my ear. “If I wanted more, I would’ve said that.” The man hummed. I grit my teeth silently, calming myself with the thought of going home. “Alright sir, that’ll be 18.25. What’s the address?” An audible groan came from the phone “18.25? Is your pizza made out of gold!?” He huffed before giving a quick ‘okay’ and ending the call. I push myself off the stool, propping the phone back in place before stomping to the front door and flipping the open sign to closed. It was irritating that the last order of the day had to be from such an asshole, but I’m getting paid anyway. I turn on my heels towards the kitchen, pushing open the red door and stretching. The pizzeria was heavily under staffed, so i had to painstakingly make the pizza myself.
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After a while, I finished the pizza, sliding it into the heat bag and grabbing my stuff from my locker. The phone rings, and I groan, snatching the phone. “This is Antonio's Pizza-Rama, unfortunately we are no longer taking orders. We open at 9am tomorrow.” Thinking that was the end of it I go to put the phone down when the voice of the same man grates my ears. “I already ordered, idiot! Where the hell is my large pepperoni, huh!? Can you not make a simple pizza?!” He spits. His voice was aggressive and ruff, like he needed to clear his throat. It pissed me off. “Your order was cancelled, goodbye sir.” I push the phone onto the old phone mount, with a growl. Pulling the pizza out of the heat bag and walking to the front door.
I’ve had my share of rude costumers, but I was way to tired to put up with that. Some people are so entitled and inconsiderate. I flip off the lights before swinging open the glass door. The cold night air washed over me in a chilly hug, the street was quiet and empty besides the few stray cars that would pass. The only sound being distant traffic and the winter breeze. I take it in with a deep breath, closing the door with my hip. Heat already rushing to my skin, trying to fight off the cold. I reach down in my pocket, rummaging around for my keys to lock the now empty pizzeria.
It wasn’t silent, the city never was. But it was quiet in New York standards. Quiet enough for the sound of feet nimbly hitting the concrete behind me to be heard… I zone it out, to deep in self pity about how tired I am. But someone leans against the wall next to me, snapping me out of my thoughts, I look over at them. They where wearing shiny silver gear, some scratches and wear. They tilt they masked head at me. “Your out late,” The voice of a guy. Slightly breathy but stern, even a simple question sounded warped with confidence “Same to you,” I tilt my head, scanning him.
He then takes note of the pizza box in my hand and crosses his arms, the sound of metal hitting metal with a soft clank. “Delivering girl I’m guessing? Or was that for you?” He crosses his arms, gesturing to the box in my arms with his helmeted head. I shrug in response, stuffing my keys back in my pocket. “No, well.. yes but no. And what’s up with you? Cosplay convention or something?” I ask while adjusting the box in my arms. He visibly jumps a bit, before leaning forward with a huff. “I ain’t ‘cosplaying’ tots. I’ll just assume you ain’t heard of me before, I’m a vigilante.” He opens his arms and gestures to himself, as if I was supposed to know every wanna be super hero in New York.
“Ohhh right.” I nod casually, shifting my weight to one foot as I look him up and down. “…who?” He stands straight, putting a hand on his hip. “I’m the Nightwatcher.” He says with a condescending tone. “Never heard of you,” I smirk. He huffs in response. “So, you deliver pizzas at 2am?” Nightwatcher leans forward a bit. “I’m closing. This guy ordered a pepperoni, but he was an ass. I was planning on just taking it home.” I shrug.
It was quite for a moment before he spoke. “Smells good.. Do you think.. could I have a bite?” He pointed to himself. I could basically fell his stomach rumbling, I sigh and smile. “Nightwatcher.. being a ‘vigilante’ must work up an appetite.” I roll my eyes, pushing the box into his arms with a yawn. He jump slightly, looking down at the pizza box in his armored hands. “So, I can have a slice?” His helmeted head tilts back up to look at me. I wave him off with a smirk. “You can have it, I have food at home.” I cross my arms “You’re probably super busy protecting damsel’s in distress all night,” I say with a playful sarcastic tone. his jaw drops, almost immediately beaming.
“Don’t be insultin,” he says with a chuckle, looking down at the box before leaning on the cold wall. “And yeah, I tend to save a damsel n’ distress or two, though ion’ appreciate the sarcasm. That’s kinda my thing.” He jerks his head up a bit, emphasizing his statement. “Well that’s to bad. I gave you my whole damn pizza, I can tease all I want,” I roll my eyes, turning away. “Have a good night, Mr Vigilante.” My goodbye had a slight backhanded undertone. Nightwatcher watches as you turn away, his eyes not leaving the direction you walked away in, until the flickering streetlight didn’t show a trace of you. He looked down at the box in his arms, quite for a moment.
“Damn. I might as well propose right now.” He looks out into the dark street. “Good night, Miss delivery girl..” he whispered to himself with a slightly confused tone.
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