Archive of Our Own ^beta

the original "daddy issues"

Work was pretty nice today. The better part of it hadn't been really busy. Of course there was the usual bunch of highschool kids that came in to order a bunch of cola and french fries whose company Taehyung very much hated as much as he liked it.

Glancing over to the seat at the counter, Taeji is still there nibbling on some chicken nuggets while she coloured. A small smile crept up Taehyung's face; it was always a joy to see her little face light up at the colour pencils or crayons they would bring over to keep her "company" in case she got bored counting the customers that came in.

She still did that, only that this time she sometimes volunteered to serve, though she only served the few regulars that they had over at the restaurant and it was always adorable to see her waddle towards a customer carrying a glass of water/ that was what Taehyung allowed her to carry. For safety issues/.

Looking over at the small digital clock on the far corner of the counter table, the green LED digits screamt '15:00'. It's almost rush hour.

Taehyung sighs.

The bell at the door chimes and a tall unfamiliar man walked in, scanned the place for a seat before walking over to a window seat.

As soon as the tall man is seated in the now slowly filling in space, Taehyung walked over to them, small smile on, / customer service/ as Seokjin liked to call it and he would not let Taehyung off on that.

"Hello, welcome to 'Delicacy' what would you like to have?", Taehyung asks and the customer takes the neatly placed menu off the table counter-top and peruses through it.

"I'll have a black coffee and a banana muffin please", he replies, soft bunny-like smile playing on his lips, his eyes crinkling a bit at the corners.

"One black coffee and banana muffin, coming right up"

"Momma!!! Can I swerve pwease?"

Taehyung chuckles. He knew that this would happen since it had happened countless times before so he had kinda expected it.

"Well, yes you can baby. Only the muffin though, okay"

She nods cutely, smiling,-" tankies"-

A short while later, Taehyung approaches the customer holding up a tray with a cup of black coffee and some paper napkins before placing them carefully on the table. He looks up from his newspaper and smiles.

Taeji is soon at the table with the muffin on a small saucer.

"here you go, mister! hope you like it, momma makes the best muffins!"

The handsome stranger thanks Taeji calling her a sweet little girl with another smile , before turning to Taehyung

"so, this is among the best muffins around here, aye?"

Taehyung feels heat creep up his cheeks and he looks away for a second before replying, "well, guess you have to taste to find out"

The customer chuckles,"I guess I do. That will be all, thank you"

Taehyung leaves his side before walking back to the cashier counter, Taeji clinging to the hand that wasn't occupied with a tray.

"So...., what do you think of the guy you just served?", Seokjin asks, a playful smile stretching his lips

"well he's just a customer and I the waiter. Nothing to think about there", Taehyung replies

"oh come on. I know you know what I mean"

Taehyung rolls his eyes.

"you found him handsome, didn't you, huh?", Seokjin asks wiggling his eyebrows.

"no, I didn't. Now let's get back to work, there are more customers to serve you know"

"Taehyuuungg!!", Seokjin whines.

Soon, the "handsome customer" as Seokjin calls him, calls for Taehyung to pay his bill which totals to about $30. He pays in credit card form, smiling as he compliments the coffee and muffin.

"thank you for coming to 'Delicacy', come again soon", Taehyung says smiling a bit, again, /customer service/ and excuses himself as he clears the table the customer was sat off the used utensils.

Well, that was weird.

He places the used up napkins on the saucer which had the muffin / there's only a few crumbs there/ and everything is so neat.

What a strange man, Taehyung thinks

Just then, Taeji comes up to him asking if it was okay for her to take cold water, and from the puppy eyes she gave, plus the somewhat warm weather, Taehyung caved on the condition that she could only take one glass because he didn't want her to catch a cold.

Time rolls in and soon it's dark outside as Taehyung can see through the glass panels of the restaurant.

'19:00'

It's Taeji's supper time. Looking around at the corner where he usually left her, Taehyung finds her snoozing off.

"Wake up baby. You need to eat"

She whines softly before fluttering her eyes open,"...m-momma?"

"yes, baby?"

"...wanna sweep", she says pouting.

"awww, I know baby. But we have to get something in that cute tummy. Okay?"

"hmph...nu-uh...wanna sweep"

This was harder than usual, maybe because Taeji was overly sleepy that day.

"baby you can sleep after you've eaten okay? Just a little bit, for momma. Please?", Taehyung says and Taeji finally nods in agreement,"wan' nuggies"

Taehyung chuckles before saying, "okay baby, chicken nuggets it is. Don't sleep before you eat, okay"

"uh-huh...I will twy", she says rubbing her left eye.

Taeji was so adorable.

Just then, a tired-looking Seokjin approaches.

"Hi Tae. Hi babygirl"

"Hello, hyung. You look like crap"

"Yayyy...thanks for pointing out but I know"

Taeji is now a bit awake and now munching sleepily on the nugget clutched in her tiny hands.

Taehyung chuckles at Seokjin's behavior before asking him why he looked so.

"Busy day and i feel tired, that's all"

Taehyung hums at his answer.

"would you like to leave early?"

Seokjin smiles slightly,"I think I just need some aspirin for my headache and a short break. Thanks Tae"

Taehyung pass Seokjin the keys to the safe medical cabinet in the kitchen.( They kept first aid and other medical supplies there and yes they lock it because, they didn't want food poisoning cases in the restaurant they worked so hard to set up)

Yes.

Delicacy was their baby, and Taehyung works there part time, as chef/ partly pastry chef/ since Taeji kept on praising his muffins ( that was one of the few things he could make without having to burn down the entire restaurant) and waiter most of the times.

He had included Seokjin as his co-owner because, for one they were best friends and two, he had far greater better culinary skills than his own. ( it was a fact). So Taehyung just stuck to being a waiter.