Chapter Text
Stan is looking from the counter, and, fuck did that redhead over there look handsome. He couldn’t keep himself from staring, even his coworkers were starting to get worried. “Stan? Dude? You can’t keep staring at random pretty boys on the job yknow” A dirty blonde boy leaned on the counter beside him, mop in one hand. If Kenny was saying that, then maybe he really was distracted— that guy usually did nothing but clean up for two minutes and then go to back to smoke weed.
Kyle Broflovski, a young redheaded gentleman, sat patiently at a perfectly circular table, displaying an unamused expression. He brought his wrist up to his face a couple of times, and Stan could tell he was getting antsy waiting for someone. A date maybe? He surely was too dashing to not have a partner already. Even when he looked slightly annoyed and angered, the raven-haired boy had to admit he was definitely attractive.
“Okay, instead of just staring at him like a creep, why don’t you, yknow, actually serve him? Ask him if he wants water or something” Kenny kept trying to talk Stan out of his helplessly gay daze, trying to nudge him out of his still position. Stan looked back, blush creeping to his face as he realised he was still working.
“Oh god uh— yeah, I’ll uhm, I’ll do that” He awkwardly sputtered, grabbing two menus as he rapidly walked over to the tall boy’s table. Stan subconsciously gulped, and suddenly he couldn’t feel his feet. Or was it his face? He wasn’t sure. A somewhat dorky smile stuck to the end of his lips as he approached the redhead, placing the menus in front of him.
His pretty emerald eyes slowly drifted to Stan’s, the boy not prepared for the eye contact. A soft yet neutral expression held on the boy’s perfect face, the raven-haired boy suddenly noticing and even subconsciously counting all the freckles that were neatly scattered across his face.
“Ah- Thank you” Kyle spoke first, and Stan felt like an idiot. He probably said it to break the ice, as he’d been standing there for a little too long without saying anything, right? God, couldn’t he count and speak at the same time?? He started regretting every choice he’d made in the past ten minutes up until now.
“Oh, no problem! I mean, it is my job! Haha..” Stan chuckled and Kyle stiffly nodded, giving the faintest smile as they interacted. Kenny looked from the counter, shaking his head lightly at his close friend. Stan had to force himself to look away, face flushed from his embarrassment. “So.. would you like some water?” No matter how awkward and uncertain he sounded while doing his own job, Kyle only politely grinned and answered, “Sure, it is necessary for living after all”
Stan froze for a second before stumbling over to where the jugs are, clumsily pouring water into one for the oh-so-charming redhead that seemed to have cast a spell on him. “Would you stop blushing so much? Isn’t there a rule to not flirt with customers? You’re embarrassing yourself” Craig deadpanned, giving Stan a fright.
He looked over his shoulder, mildly pissed at his cold coworker. “I’m not flirting with him, Jesus! I’m just pouring him some water!” He somewhat yelled, the other pinching the edge of his nose. “Whatever” Stan passed by him, making sure not to spill the water all over the floor.
“Here you go! Do you uh- want anything else? While you’re uh.. yknow- waiting for your date..?” His eyes probably flickered off somewhere else again, finding it impossible to keep his composure together in front of this fine gentleman. Then Stan heard a breathy laugh from the redhead. “Not yet, though at this rate, I’m afraid I’m being stood up” his tone was laced with frustration, as he checked his watch once again.
“Ah well— sorry I guess—“ Stan rubbed the back of his neck until the other male cut him off. “But you know, I wouldn’t mind knowing your name” He gently smiled, and the shorter boy swore he felt his face begin to heat up. “My name?? Oh uh okay- my name is Stan. Stan Marsh” his cheeks flushed brighter as he introduced himself, the redhead seeming eager to know about his waitress.
Until a certain guy with sandy-coloured hair and piercing blue eyes came up to the table, his gaze directed at Kyle as a sly smirk tugged at his mouth. Stan immediately got an icky feeling about this guy and assumed he must’ve been at least 30. “Oh sorry sir, please sit down” he moved out of the way, taking out the chair for him.
Kyle hid a snicker as his eyes continued to follow Stan, strangely endeared by his behaviour. “Thank you,” the guy said probably out of basic manners, sitting down as he faced Kyle. “I’ll let you two uh—look over the menu” Stan displayed a small yet strained smile, being quick to leave them alone. Of course, this gorgeous redhead wouldn’t want to talk to him more— he seemed so smart, so sophisticated.
“Oh before you go, Stan, my name is Kyle. Kyle Broflovski” He grinned again his way, and Stan felt he could collapse right then and there. He was purposely and directly looking at him instead of his own date, Stan convinced himself he was dreaming.
Over the course of the date, Stan kept eyeing the couple, making his manager a bit uncomfortable. “For god’s sake Stan! You know I can’t let you keep pulling this shit all night!” The curly blonde yelled, her hands placed on her hips as usual. Her sassy tone snapped the boy back to reality, catching himself staring at Kyle, once again.
“Sorry, Bebe! I’m sorry, okay? I’ll— serve that table over there” He pointed to a random area in the restaurant and all Bebe did was sigh and shut her eyes before walking away, not wanting to deal with her employee anymore. “Fine Stan, whatever”
As Stan quickly scadadled to some random table, asking them if they needed anything, in the corner of his eye, he could see that bastard, Craig Tucker, taking his table! He observed as Craig took out his minuscule notepad and pen, glaring at both Kyle and that random guy with his usual apathetic stare. Then— wait. Those same empty black holes for eyes looked straight at him.
Craig turned his head to Stan and called him over with his hand, his face the same. “Are there any..” Stan eyed the sandy-haired man, “problems at this table?” He then turned to Craig, who blinked once, slowly. “This customer specifically requested you to serve them” Kyle flashed a lovely smile and Stan thought he was going insane.
“Oh.. sure..!” Stan attempted to show a convincing enthusiastic smile, but ultimately just looked pained. As soon as Craig left, the raven-haired boy took out his own notepad, ready to jot down any orders. “Alright, do you know what you want to order for tonight?” He decided to keep his vision on the small page, so as to not flush any more from feeling Kyle’s eyes on him.
After the orders were done, all Stan could do was watch from the sidelines once again. He watched Kyle and his date as they chatted, the redhead’s expressions being mesmerising to see. Though even if Stan didn’t know the guy, he could tell it was just a friendly front. Like how you act when you’re having small chat with someone but you don’t actually care when you ask “How’s your life been?”
He wished he was at the other end of the table, having a nice glass of wine— even if Stan wasn’t overly fond of the drink, he’d prefer a cocktail instead— and getting to know someone as— interesting as Kyle. He wanted to make him laugh, make him genuinely smile, though he might faint if he ever got to see such a thing.
Stan knew he was being a bit crazy—- delusional even, but, he couldn’t help it. Someone had never caught his eye as much as that boy. That guy who seemed to be the same age, who seemed to possess the most beautiful hair, softest hands— which he managed to glance at a couple of times. Heat rose to his face whenever he thought about it for too long.
God, he really needs to get a move on and especially— get a fucking life.
Once the night was finally over, it was time for Kyle and that other guy— whom Stan had not bothered to learn the name of— to pay. He walked over to the table one final time, noticing the obvious boredom Kyle was experiencing as his date sipped the last of his glass of deep red wine. The two didn’t exchange a word— the redhead smiling up at Stan as he took out his wallet.
“Thank you for your service, Stan” It’s as if Kyle fluttered his eyelashes at him, his grin sweet as he strained out his name. He blushed furiously, a giddy smile growing quickly. “N-no problem, Kyle” he decided to say his name, which felt excitedly tingly on the tip of his tongue, it made him want to say it again.
Max, Kyle’s date, glared at Stan for a second before getting up to take his leave. “I’ll call you,” he said, winking at the redhead as he walked out. “Alright!” Kyle waved as he smiled before it was immediately wiped off his face as he mumbled under his breath, “Because I won’t call you, piece of shit” It seemed as though he forgot Stan was standing there, his expression changed into an irritated one.
“Don’t like him?” Stan decided to ask, Kyle flushing lightly at realising the waiter was still there beside him. “Oh sorry— I didn’t realise you heard that”, he took a moment to comb his fingers through his frizzy hair, “but yeah no, he was just so” he bit his tongue and the shorter boy finished his sentence for him, “old?” A grin threatened to show, though he didn’t want to be disrespectful.
Kyle looked at him, and he broke out a small chuckle. “Pfftt— yeah. Way too old. Guys with beards aren’t exactly my type” He teased. “Why’d you even go out with him anyways?” Stan laughed along with him, happy to know Kyle agreed. “Maybe cause of the power of Photoshop or I just thought he had a really neat Tinder page” he jokingly shrugged.
“Anyways, I should go, it’s getting late” Kyle sighed, getting up from his seat. Stan stepped back to allow him to get out, still following his every move. And as Stan accompanied him to the door, like the amazing and hard worker he is, the tall redhead shot him one more glorious smile.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night, Stan”
Well shit, he really had to pay attention while working now.