Chapter Text
“I can't believe after everything that went wrong in my life, this is where I end up. A dead-end job at McDonald's right after college."
“Umm… yeah, I’ll have a number 3 with an extra side of fries, plus a happy meal for my son if you could.” The women asked Shadow sweetly from behind the counter her grasped around her son’s arm who was staring at a monitor showcasing a group of action figures.
Shadow put on his best employee of the month smile, but his eyes couldn’t fake joy the way the rest of his face could. “Right away ma'am.” Shadow muttered before taking a look at the register and then to the kid. “That’ll be 10 dollars, and kid, is there a specific toy you’d like? Normally it’s random, but since it’s the holiday, I’ll break the rules this time.”
“I really want the Sonic toy, he's so cool. Don’t you agree?” The kid stared up at Shadow with an aura of happiness and childlike wonder that might’ve made Shadow crack a genuine smile.
“Yeah, he’s the coolest.” Shadow tilted his head to the left while saying it to follow where his eyes were going.
“Your food will be ready shortly.”
Shadow stated as the mother thanked him and the son leaving to find a seat the mother following suit.
“Hi, I’ll have a coffee, hold the coffee beans though.” The next person in line asked as Shadow dropped his fake smile as a result of the question.
“I’ll see what I can do sir.” Shadow slinked away to the kitchen, taking one last look at the mother and son from before, cracking a small but somewhat genuine smile. “Hey, can we make a coffee without the coffee beans?”
“Oh sure, let's give them some hot water with sugar and creamer in it.” Rouge said, smirking at Shadow.
Rouge sported a McDonald’s outfit, though hers was filled with fake gemstones that she bought to make the outfit feel more expensive and shiny, she also wore 3 bracelets a silver one, a gold one, and her favorite, a friendship bracelet she made for herself that said edgys best friend. She also wore flare pants to complete her stylish look. Shadow also had a friendship bracelet that said Queen's best friend.
“Even though I’ve worked here for almost 2 years, it’s still hard to believe what some people order. How much you bet we give him what he ordered and he gets mad and confused about what he got.” Shadow playfully said.
“Ok, I bet he won’t get mad, but instead he’ll send it back saying this isn’t what I ordered. I asked for coffee. Winner has to pay for dinner.” Rouge joking but seriously said.
“I’ll take that bet.” Shadow put his hands to his sides and grabbed the order, turning to take it to the customer.
…
“That was fast.” The man said, taking the cup and taking a quick swig, plastering a gentle smile, to Shadow's internal shock.
“Is it to your liking?” Shadow happily asked, anticipating a rude reaction from the customer, but to his surprise, that wasn’t the case at all.
“Yes, this is just what I wanted. It’s so hard to find a place that serves this to me, most places I’ve gone to have rather refused or simply laughed in my face because they thought I was joking and told me to order something else.” The man grasped the cup a little tighter and took another sip.
“I’m glad it’s to your liking, but I have to ask. Why?”
“I understand it’s a little unorthodox,x but the simple answer is everyone is different, and a part of that is equated to the people in their lives are how they help us grow and learn. If you have time, would you listen to the short tale of a lonely man on the holidays?”
“I could use a break.” Shadow sat across the man attentively, looking at the man across from him and noticing his expression had completely changed to a sad one.
“I recently lost someone very important to me. We could've been happy for him and I, but sadly it just wasn’t meant to be. I used to make him his favorite coffee everyday. He loved his Austrian goats milk coffee with little designs, something different but mostly he would ask for a heart design on it or one of his face. Sharing a cup of coffee with him was one of the best parts of my day. He disappeared once and I made his coffee everyday in hopes he would come back one day. My prayers were answered and we were back at until he eventually kicked the bucket and there was nothing I could but watch. After that I lost my ability to make coffee and the taste but a part of me couldn’t let go of coffee because of how much he enjoyed it.” At that point the man from Shadow was in tears unable to look up and face Shadow.
“Understand the pain of losing someone special to you and being able to fully let go. If I might ask, what was his name?”
“Ivo… Ivo Robotnik.”
“And your name?”
“Stone but everyone calls me Dr.Stone.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It’s fine, at least I was given closure in the end. In his final moments before he died he told me how much he cared for me and even mentioned my coffee. He said, what can I say? I love how you make them. We were each other's one true friend. If I might ask? Who did you lose?” Finally facing Shadow his tears falling into his drink.
“My sister, Maria. The only person who truly cared for me and well really my only friend.” Shadow looked at the person who went from a strange customer to someone who was similar to him in more ways than he thought despite how differently their loses seemed to have affected them. “You’re welcome here anytime and I’m more than willing to make your coffee as well.”
“Thank you I must be going now anyways. Here for troubling yourself with listening to me.” Stone reached into his pocket and handed Shadow a $20.
“Have a happy holiday sir.” Shadow took the 20 and went back to the kitchen were Rouge was waiting for him.
“So Shady how’d it go I didn’t hear much fighting.” Rouge leaned in awaiting an answer.
“All you need to know is that dinner is on me tonight. Happy holidays Rouge.”