Chapter Text
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Times up.
A defeated tune plays.
Shuriken.. lost.
Like- lost, lost. He puts a palm to the side of his head, and checks his stats.
1 kill, 9 deaths, 2 assists.
Shit.
There’s no way he’s going to get paid much at all from this Phight. Money's already been tight enough with the cafe being open for less hours- Vinestaff and Slingshot need to be in the Phights, too, and it’s not like he makes a lot of money from vigilante work either. He donates most if not all of what he steals from the rich.
He sighs and puts his arm back to his side, attempting to relax his body and, hopefully, his mind. He grabs his gear and grapples over to Thieves Den for another shift of vigilante work.
Tomorrow..
Ding ding! “..I’m here.” Shuriken tiredly mumbles, walking into the cafe for his shift. He took too long washing his horns of the green paint from the Phight and, right after, his vigilante shift, and was late. Slingshot was already at the counter, the tables wiped and prepped.
Slingshot turns towards the other Inphernal, walking around the counter. “Sooo… you’re late. Again. You know this can’t keep happening, Shuri..”
Slingshot’s tail flicks, and his eyes meet Shuriken’s, not letting him slip out of this conversation. Shuriken has no choice but to reply with a half-truth. “..Yeah, I get it, I just.. I’m just tired from the Phights and.. sleep in and stuff. Sorry, I know money is tight and you need me here working at the cafe, too..”
“I..” Slingshot stops mid-sentence, and just puts his hand to his forehead with a troubled expression. “..Okay, fine, just.. clock in, so you can start your shift and all. We’re gonna talk about this later, okay? And I don’t mean about you being late.” Slingshot goes into the backroom to take his break.
Shuriken stands in silence for a moment as Slingshot leaves, making sure he’s gone before sighing and walking over to the front counter, slumping over it while waiting for customers.
It didn’t take TOO long for someone to show up. A familiar green figure enters the cafe with a positive energy that Shuriken almost can’t fathom. Boombox.
“Hi Shuri! Think I could get my usual?” Boombox says, joyfully. Shuriken brightens a bit when Boombox speaks, giving them a smile. The pink inphernal knows Boombox is just here as an excuse to talk to Shuriken, but they start prepping the latte art they always order anyway. Normally Slingshot would be in the kitchen, but because of the Phights only 1 or 2 of them are usually on shift at once.
Shuriken finishes and serves Boombox. Seeing as no one else is in the cafe at the moment, they start chatting.
“How have you been doing recently, Boombox? Haven't seen you hanging around the cafe for a little bit, any new songs?”
“Oh, I’ve been doing well! Aha, no new songs yet, though, I think I may have a beat in mind- you’ll definitely be the first to hear it. How about you?” Boombox’ visor changes to a playfully questioning expression.
“..ah, it’s been.. fine. A little tough, maybe, but okay-”
Suddenly, Slingshot comes back out of the backroom, troubled. “Hey, Shuriken, sorry I have to leave early- Skate just called me, Coil is missing.”
Boombox stands up. “Coil is WHAT?” His visor changes to exclamation points.
“Missing, yeah! I’m leaving for Playground right now- are you coming with? We might be gone for a while.”
“Yeah, dude! This is serious!”
Shuriken simply watches as the green and blue inphernals leave. Leaves him there holding an empty cup. He sighs and walks over to the kitchen, putting the cup in the sink. Vinestaff can deal with it.
It’s fine.
He’s fine.
It’s alllll fine.
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