Chapter Text
The ruins of Fort Dogwarts stood at the edge of town, bordering the Lower district with just a sliver of crumbling ruin in the Upper district- the two districts of the city of Dogwarts. Though that brought value to the Lower district, tourists never exactly stuck around- always favoring to stay away from the “Decrepit shells of the Lower district,” even when those rumors weren't quite true. Yes, the Lower district wasn't quite as pristine as the Upper district, but not nearly as much as the rumors made it sound.
After all, they had the majority of the villains that the Upper district could send their heroes to fight against. Even though the fights mostly happened within the Lower district, it gave the Upper district the glory and attention of being able to beat the villains and keep the city safe, while really it was only the Upper district they were trying to protect- the Lower district was just a “Happy accident”.
The Upper district prided itself on its Hero Committee; All the top heroes, working in tandem with the Committee leaders organizing all their patrols.
But that same committee that advertised their heroes as idols who could protect citizens and inspire the community to help and move forward with the Committee could care less about the grand majority of their great city- specifically all the Lower district’s residents.
Not everybody in Dogwarts had powers, but those who did were often recruited into the Hero Committee, where the officials helped to push those people to the edges of their abilities to protect the Upper district (And supposedly the Lower District, too) and those who kept silent about their powers… they had to push it down around the officials, as any unidentified civilian with powers was known as a threat.
And most of those threats turned to villainy after even one bad encounter with the Committee officials, though some stayed civil for longer than most.
***
Ocean’s Thirteen was a little cafe along the outskirts of the Lower district, near the decaying tourist traps lining Fort Dogwarts and the visitor center used for gathering tours to explore the ruins.
It made good business for the cafe, though, everyone flocking to the only cafe open before the tours begin and open still once all the tours conclude.
Of course it wasn't nearly as enjoyable for the workers in the cafe- they had three separate shifts, but no matter which shift somebody had, they would be getting serious rushes.
The owners of the cafe were pretty absent owners- tending to leave what was supposed to be their jobs to their children- Lizzie and Jimmy- though only their daughter really was interested in running the cafe. Their son had his shifts, but he didn't enjoy it much.
And Jimmy had the closing shift today.
***
It was close to closing, the later customers starting to file out of the cafe as they rushed to hotels and apartments.
Jimmy had already cleaned the counters and bar table- the bar being closed already and the table having been in need of a clean anyways- when somebody walked in.
The man who walked in was certainly not from the Lower district; he didn’t carry himself in an arrogant manner, but he also had very recognizable bright blue hair- an interesting choice in the Lower district.
Jimmy was fully ready to tell the new customer that they were closed, but he never did. Lizzie had told him to serve whoever came in that day, and he wasn't going to go back on her.
“Hello, and welcome to Ocean’s Thirteen- what can I get ya today?” Jimmy smiled, trying not to look tired.
The stranger smiled, glancing up at the menu before looking back at Jimmy.
“I've never actually been here before… What would you recommend?”
Jimmy paused for a moment, normally everybody just ordered their usuals or whatever was cheapest, “Uh… probably the Dogwarts Honey Brew? It’s not the most popular, but it’s good..?”
The man smiled, “Then could I have a Dogwarts Honey Brew, please?”
Jimmy nodded, asked for a name, and he got one; Scott Major.
***
“Dogwarts Honey Brew for Scott Major!” Jimmy called, scanning the cafe for the teal hair of the strange Upper class customer. He spotted him as he stood, walking from the small window table before thanking Jimmy, leaving the pay for the drink and… a small envelope.
“Uh, sir? I think you dropped something?” Jimmy asked, holding the envelope out to Scott.
He just smiled- not cocky, but genuinely kind, “It’s a tip for you; sorry if the envelope’s inconvenient, its habit,” And with that, the teal-haired customer walked out the doors, leaving a now empty cafe and a very confused Jimmy behind.
“What’s even in this?” Jimmy thought, tearing the seal. Inside, there wasn't just a dollar, or a few cents, like most of the tips he received. Instead, there were about 50 dollars inside, all pressed neatly against one another. “WHAT THE HELL??? No way this dude’s from here. He’s gotta be a tourist… or maybe an upper classman.”