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For some reason, Rody was feeling more tired than usual, and he had no idea why. He’s been getting the same amount of sleep he usually got (which even if he didn’t get eight or six hours, he still usually didn’t feel this tired), and today wasn’t a particularly busy day. But for some reason, Rody felt like his body could shut down at any moment. He thought he was hiding pretty well but he must’ve not been because Vincent talked to him when he was taking out the trash.
“Rody, why have you been doing a more shit job than usual?”
Rody lets out a sigh. “Sorry boss,” Rody knew that if he said he didn’t know why he was feeling like this Vincent was gonna get mad at him so he said the first thing that came to mind, “I haven’t been able to sleep lately.”
Vincent gives him an unimpressed look. “You sure, I can tell when you’re sleep-deprived and even then you’re not usually this bad.”
Rody just stares at the chef, not saying anything, and it’s not long before Vincent sighs. “Go sit down, I’m taking over your shift.”
Rody weakly shakes his head. “You don’t need to-”
Vincent grabs Rody’s wrist and starts dragging him. “Shut it.”
As they leave the kitchen they both see a table of three leaving, complaining about the wait time, Vincent rolls his eyes and brings Rody to an empty table.
“Vince, this really isn’t necessary.”
“I’m not about to let a ginger connard tell me what is and isn’t necessary. Now if you move from this chair I won’t hesitate to cut you.”
Rody frowns but compiles. Soon a table of two comes in and Vincent goes over to serve them. It’s like this for a while, Rody watches Vincent do his job for him and of course, he’s better at it, than him. Rody’s sure he can watch him all day if he could…
Suddenly Vincent hears a heavy thud hit the ground. He looks over at the table he left Rody and sees the ginger lying beside the table, knocked out.
Rody woke up with a painful headache, his vision was blurry so he wasn’t sure where he was. He heard what he thinks are footsteps approaching him, and then someone was saying something to him, but he couldn’t make out what it was, suddenly he felt his face burn. Did he just get slapped?
“Ow! What was that for?”
“For passing out on the job.”
With Rody’s vision slowly coming back to him he saw Vincent glaring at him. “Vince? Where am I?”
“My room, I hope you know you’re changing my sheets after this.”
Rody felt his eyes go wide and tilted his head. “Wait I passed out?”
“Yeah dumbass, I had to take you up here so now one of those dumbass chefs is doing your job.”
“But if I passed, why didn’t you take me to the hospital?”
“Why would I do that when I already know how to take care of someone who’s fainted.”
“But you don’t know why I passed out.”
“C’mon, it’s quite obvious you haven’t been eating or anything.”
Rody felt himself freeze for a second. Vincent sighed. “You’re pathetic.”
“But what does that have to do with me fainting?”
Vincent gave him a deadpan look. “Are you fucking stupid, if you don’t eat anything for too long you’ll pass out, dipshit.”
“Oh. Well how did you even know this you’re a chef aren’t you?”
“It doesn’t take a fucking genius to know that, and good chefs know about nutrition and all that other shit.”
“Oh.”
Vincent sighs again. “Whatever, tell me what vegetable you want.”
“Uh, tomato?”
With a short hum, Vincent stands up. “You should get some more rest, I’ll be back.” With that Vincent leaves the room.
Now what do I do?
He didn’t feel tired anymore so he didn’t feel like sleeping, but Vincent would probably be mad at him if he got up.
…
Then again when was that ever really an issue?
Slowly Rody, feeling a little dizzy he lays his hand on the bed but seeing as he wouldn’t faint, he continued walking and when he reached the kitchen he saw Vincent getting out a variety of vegetables.
“You really can’t listen to a goddamn thing I say, huh.”
Rody smiles. “I’m not tired.”
“I don’t see why that matters when you passed out.”
Rody pouts. “Come on, I just wanna watch you cook.”
Vincent rolls his eyes. “Go sit down and if you end up dozing off I’m kicking your ass out.”
Rody complies and goes to sit on one of the stools.
Vincent puts onions and celery into a pot, puts some salt in, and stirs.
Rody hums. “So no one saw me pass out right?”
“No, they heard you fall and saw you lying on the ground like the roi des cons, but they didn’t see you collapse.”
Rody sighs. “Well, that’s great. I really hope anyone I knew wasn’t there.”
“I doubt it considering anyone who goes to my restaurant is usually out of your league.”
Rody huffs out a few laughs and continues to watch Vince cook, who’s now adding a little garlic in and stirring. After about a minute Vincent stops stirring and adds some vegetable stock, once the bowl’s filled he gives it a quick stir and then focuses on the tomatoes.
He grabs the two tomatoes, gives them a quick rinse, goes to the cutting board, and starts cutting them. Considering how quickly the chef cuts, Rody's impressed he doesn’t end up cutting himself.
“Wow, you cut pretty fast.”
“Been doing this for years, of course, I cut fast.”
“Yeah, I know but I always managed to cut myself.”
“That’s because you’re a clumsy dipshit.”
Rody rubs his neck and smiles. “I can’t argue with that.”
Once Vincent’s done with the tomatoes he pours them into the pot and starts stirring again as he raises the heat. Then he puts some seasoning and rice in it as he continues stirring. He continues to adjust the heat and once he’s satisfied he scoops a little soup into the spoon and goes over to Rody.
“Try it.”
Vincent presses it to Rody’s mouth and he sips. “It’s pretty good.”
“What a world-class compliment.”
“C’mon you know I don’t care about food like Manon and those proper food tasters are.”
Vincent grunts and goes back to the pot, he stirs a little more then washes the spoon off and sets it down.
“Get up, Rody. While this is cooling off you’re getting in the shower.”
Rody tilts his head. “Why? Isn’t the soup done?”
“It’s more of a bisque and no it’s not done, we have to wait around thirty minutes, and seeing as you don’t have anything to do, you can go ahead and stop smelling like pig shit now.”
“Do I really smell that bad?”
Instead of granting him an answer Vincent rolls his eyes and leaves the kitchen, with Rody following behind.
“Vince you know I can just take a shower when I get home right?”
“Hm, it’s funny that you think I’m letting you go home after this.”
“Wait what?”
“Rody, it’s night out and I don’t feel like having to worry about whether or not you’re gonna pass out on your way home so you’re staying here.”
Rody tilts his head. “Wait, you worry about me?”
Vincent ignores him and opens the bathroom door. He goes over to the bathtub, plugs the drain, starts running water into the tub, and pours some soap into it. “You can turn the temperature to whatever you want, I don’t care. The towels are under the sink, and make sure you actually look clean before you get out.”
“I will, thanks, Vince.”
Vincent grunts and stands up. “This is coming out of your paycheck.”
Then he leaves, leaving Rody alone. Rody starts taking off his clothes and places them on the counter, he gets a towel from the cabinet and walks over to the tub (which he still finds ugly). He tampers with the temperature until it’s to his liking and when he sees the water’s high enough he turns the faucet off. When Rody sets himself into the tub he melts into the water, he can barely remember the last time he’s felt this relaxed. He lets out a sigh and lets himself soak for a few minutes until he remembers about the bisque and that Vincent’s probably tired of waiting on him so he starts washing himself.
When he’s done he takes the drain out and dries himself off. He’s about to start putting his clothes on but realizes he doesn’t have any. Making his way to the door, he opens it a little. “Uh, Vince?”
He gets no response so he calls for him again but still nothing. Rody internally groans. Is Vince really gonna force him to look for him?
Making sure the towel was wrapped around him he leaves the bathroom. Maybe he’s in his room? Rody walks to Vincent’s bedroom and knocks, but again no response, expecting to be yelled at Rody opens the door but Vincent isn’t there. Sighing, he goes to the kitchen but doesn’t see the man, then when he goes to the living room he still isn’t there.
Rody frowns. Great, the second he needs the man he’s nowhere to be seen.
He starts walking back to the bathroom but suddenly he hears the door open, he turns around and sees Vincent holding a bag. Vincent’s eyes are widened as he stares at the ginger. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Oh uh, well I was looking for you because I needed some clothes.”
“Oh, well here you go.”
Walking to him Vincent gives Rody the bag. “I went to the boutique that’s not far from here to get you some clothes, they were closing but luckily I know the owner so she did this little favor for me.”
“Oh, you didn’t need to do that for me.”
“Well you sure as hell can’t wear my clothes and staying in your uniform wouldn’t be hygienic or comfortable. Now get your naked ass back in the bathroom and change.”
“Right.” Rody smiles, takes the bag, and goes into the bathroom to change.
When he’s done he can’t help but feel cozy in the pajamas Vince bought him and he goes back to the kitchen where Vince is. “Is the bisque done yet?”
“Yeah, and I made you some tea.”
“Thanks but you really didn’t need to.”
Vincent stares at him. “Shut up and go sit down.”
Rody smiles and does just that. Vincent pours some of the tomato bisque into a bowl, pours some of the tea into a cup, and gives it to Rody. Rody scoops a spoonful of the bisque into his mouth and hums. “This is really good, thanks, Vince.”
“It better be fucking good considering you don’t deserve it.”
Rody smiles and continues eating the bisque and drinking the tea. Soon enough he’s done and Vincent takes the dishes and washes them off. “I’m tired after having to babysit you so I’m going to bed, you’re coming with me.”
“Huh, why?”
“I don’t trust you being alone in my house.”
“Why, I haven’t done anything!”
Vincent glares at him. “Do you not remember what you stole when you first set foot in my house?”
Oh yeah, Rody forgot he did that. “Right, well I gave it back.”
“Just stop complaining and follow me.”
Rody sticks his tongue out at him but other than that he complies. A few seconds pass and they’re in Vincent’s bedroom. Vincent walks over to the bed and lies down.
“So since you’re forcing me to stay here, where am I going to sleep?”
“You’re sleeping in the bed obviously.”
Rody raises a brow. “Wait what? But aren’t you sleeping in your bed?”
“Obviously, but I don’t care if we share, the bed’s big enough. But if you’re that repulsed by sleeping in the same bed with another man then you can’t sleep on the floor.”
“No, I’ll sleep with you.”
Vincent shakes his head at the wording Rody decided to use. “Then get in, but if you start trying to hog the blanket then you’re sleeping on the floor.”
Slowly, Rody gets under the covers of the bed, leaving a small space between him and Vincent. “Goodnight, Vince.”
“Night.”
Well, this is awkward, how the hell is Rody supposed to sleep now that he’s lying beside his boss? Rody squeezes his eyes shut and tries to focus his mind on other things to get this weird situation off his mind.
Beer, puppies, Manon, burgers, guitars, Intervilles…
When Rody wakes up he’s resting his head on something cool, Rody leans into the cooling touch and looks up to see Vince still asleep. Upon realizing what’s happening Rody’s eyes widen and tries to move, but the arms wrapped around him won’t let him go.
Oh no, Vince is going to kick his ass when he wakes up.