Work Text:
Working in a busy Taco Bell in a popular mall in a crowded town in the middle of nowhere was never particularly a dream of Noel’s, but the bills wouldn’t pay themselves, and nor would his mother.
Things had gotten a little better since he had died though (which was a crazy sentence to say). Since they were all discharged from the hospital and things like school and work started for them, Noel could no longer hide his previously top-secret, mysterious job from the choir every other afternoon as he left rehearsal to drive to work. Mainly because he had literally told them all about Taco Bell thanks to that rancid machine – which was stupid on his part.
But since then, he would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the fact that the choir often swung by the mall on the days he worked. Sometimes it was everyone, other times it was just one or two. But it helped to know that there at least someone he didn’t completely despise in that cursed building.
Especially on days like today.
“Listen, kid. I did not come here today after a long day at work to be treated like garbage. I want you to walk yourself into the kitchen, and tell the cooks that they need to remake this taco with the fillings I actually ordered.”
Noel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the pathetic man in front of him – short and stroppy-looking as his bright red face contorted into an ugly scowl. He put on his best customer service voice as he repeated himself for the third time.
“I understand, sir,” he said politely, picking at his nail polish behind the cash register. “But I have checked your order several times, and you did select the extra cheesy option. I can tell them to make you a new meal, but I cannot give it to you for free; you would have to pay for it as they didn’t technically get your previous order wrong.”
The man looked like he was about to combust, standing rigid and glaring daggers at Noel.
“Who are you to speak to me like that, boy?” he practically spat. Noel raised his eyebrows, unimpressed.
“Like what, if you don’t mind me asking, sir?” He knew other customers were watching now. They had been since the man had angrily marched up to the till, taco in hand and a snarl on his lip.
Noel absently glanced behind him as he heard the door open for a new customer. His eyes landed on Penny, and she beamed and waved at him as she stepped inside. He gave a miniscule nod to the guy, and she seemed to understand that he was busy and hovered beside an empty table, watching. Noel smirked at the assessing, unimpressed glint in her eye as she looked him up and down, sizing him up.
“That’s it,” the man snapped, slamming his hand down hard on the counter, making noel jump a little. “I’m not having someone like… you speak to me like that.”
Noel wanted so desperately to scoff and flip that dickwad off, but tried to nod in sympathy and dip his head anyway.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to come across as rude.”
“Yeah right. As if one of your kind could ever mean a genuine apology.”
The insult didn’t make any sense, and he was pretty sure the little man just thought of it on the spot for the sake of being a shitty person. But Noel still flinched a little. He was used to that sort of thing, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t still hard to hear.
He felt anger begin to simmer in his gut, and ignored the customer’s always right rule.
“Excuse me, sir. I’m not sure I understand what you’re implying,” he deadpanned, borderline glaring. The man scowled right back, slowly and torturously looking him up and down with a scrunched nose.
“Come on, kid,” he said, throwing his arms up. “You know what I’m talking about.”
He stepped closer, leaning over the till. Noel forced himself to stand his ground and not lean away, but the repulsive smell of taco and smoke on the guy’s breath made it a pretty unattractive choice, if Noel had to be honest.
His eyes darted down to Noel’s apron, where he knew his small pride pin sat. He wasn’t technically allowed to wear it at work; he always did anyway. But now he was kind of wishing he hadn’t, just to avoid that disgusted sneer and the mocking grin stretching across those gross, unkempt, stubbled cheeks. His pores were almost impressive – he could really do with a consistent skincare routine.
The man opened his mouth to say something.
“Noel, oh my goodness!” a shrill, excited voice called out, followed by the rapid squeak of shoes on the tile floor. The man jumped back, startled. As did Noel when Penny all but flung herself over the small counter and threw her arms around his neck. He blinked, unsure of what to do as she pulled his head down to her to plant an exaggerated kiss on his cheek, grinning dopily.
She stepped away, swinging their joined hands as she smiled at him, before seemingly noticing that they had company. She jumped and stepped forward.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt your order,” she was saying, far to quickly and enthusiastically for Penny’s usual quiet demeanour. “I just get so excited whenever I see my boyfriend, you know?”
Noel’s eyebrows shot up as he understood, and he nearly huffed out a laugh.
“Yeah, come on, love. Not when I’m working,” he said, ushering her away. She shot him a little glare that only he could catch as she mouthed a quick, “You’re playing it up now.”
The man looked between them, baffled and furious, before finally grunting. He turned on his heel and trudged out of the shop, ears red and grumbling incoherent insults and profanities that could have even given Mischa a run for his money. Penny watched him go with a little smirk as Noel laughed, pulling his hand from her grasp.
“Gross. Thanks, Pen,” he said. She shrugged and stepped around the counter, smiling at the few people who still sat staring at her.
“Get me a free Cola and you won't owe me anything,” she called. Noel rolled his eyes but tapped her order in, quickly swiping his own card before anyone from the kitchen could see.