Work Text:
The tables are crawling with people, the midday rush a waltz to the waiters tripping over their feet to serve the food under the watchful eye of the owner. The kitchen stays quiet. Scarily quiet, dishes lined up at the counter in military formation before getting sent out, and the bell rings in a tired chime every few seconds.
The owner has yet to start yelling at the kitchen for the day. Caleb knows its coming but he is in no mood to listen to her drone on and on once again, especially without Xera here to make it somewhat bearable. Liam, the only other cook on duty today, risks asking him if he can take a smoke break only to be met with a glare that sends him running back to his station, not that he was helping much to begin with. Sweat pools on Calebs brow, his steady hands starting to feel slightly clammy before he washes them again for the upteenth time. There are only so many things one man can do, and though he'd never admit it, all the work was starting to get to him.
As inevitable as the sun rising, the owner marches in, vocals presumably moisturized and ready for the session of the day. It always starts with how the customers don't like the food, but of course she isn't ready to change it, despite how many times Caleb has tried to help. Just a few tweaks and the food would be...digestible in the least. He tries to sneak a glance at the door, only to be questioned.
"And where is Xera? Doesn't she have any regard for-" the owner starts, and Caleb thinks he is a patient man but there's only so many things he can take.
"She's on her way." He snaps, despite having no way of knowing, and squeezes the sauce bottle too tight, causing the sauce to splatter around the dish. This has the desired effect of the owner zoning in on on him.
"Seriously? What are you even doing. Do you even know how to cook? I pay you too much as it is. That's coming out of your pocket" the owner goes on and on, and Caleb has to do all he can to not smile. He nods dutifully at the words, wiping up the plate and finishing up a few more orders.
Just as he rings in another order, the door opens and in comes Xera, a flurry of shawls and bags and a pant on her breath that makes it clear that she had probably run the last few blocks. Caleb whipped around to look at her. Often he thought this was the best part of his day, seeing her face and knowing that they had a long shift up ahead together, but today, something was wrong. He didn't know what it was but the redness around her eyes and the look on her face made it clear to him that she was distressed, more than just because she was late.
"I'm so sorry. I put my alarm and it didn't ring" she says hurriedly, putting on her apron and hairnet and washing her hands. The owner scrutinizes her.
"Do you even know what time it is? If you think that you can walk ri-" she starts, and Liam, who slowly washes the dishes, is the only one who catches the way Caleb's jaw ticks in the way it only does when he is really quite mad.
Caleb couldn't take it. She doesn't deserve it. She doesn't deserve to have this less than minimum wage job in the worst kitchen with the owner ever and have to spend her days making dishes that no one ever appreciates and have to work even though she's upset and he doesn't know why she's upset and still be yelled at and have to do it all with him even though she was the best part of his days and he knew he couldn't let her life get even a fraction worse if he can help it.
"Lay off her. She's never late" he says forcefully, plating another order.
"How about you mind your own damn business. Do I have to remind you who you work for again?" the owner retorts, a red sheen coating her face as she gets more and more worked up.
Caleb seen Xera's face and knows he cant let this go. He tries a different approach. "We're falling behind on dishes. I need her to start right now. I'll yell at her for you." He reaches forward and gently pulls Xera behind him.
The owner gives him one thorough look before giving in. "Fine. I have to check up in the front anyway. "
As soon as she leaves, Caleb finally lets himself breath a little. Xera gingerly looks at him.
"I was starting to wonder if you'd show up today. " he says with a teasing lilt, focusing on rolling out some pasta dough. "Lunch rush is much more doable with you around."
"I'm really sorry, Caleb" She says, looking at him with so much guilt that he feels his heart stutter. "I didn't mean to be late and leave this whole mess on you."
"Hey, don't sweat it, pipsqueak. You think I can't handle a few dishes?" He says, trying to lighten the mood.
"You can yell if you want.", she mumbles. "It wasn't fair of me to leave you at lunch rush".
"And why would I wanna do that? It's not like you wanted to be late. We can just act it up for our lovely miss owner, cant we?"
"I just don't want you to be mad at me." she whispers, sounding a bit like a child. Caleb stills just for a second, brow furrowing.
"Hey, come on now. Why would I be mad at you? We're alright." He says gently, wiping a plate and sending it out. " You shouldn't have to listen to her when I'm around anyway. Plus, Liam over there is basically the flash in the kitchen, isn't he?" He jokes, winking, and desperately hoping she'll look a little less sad.
He puts a pot of water to boil as she gets her bearings and joins in with the tasks, setting up her stations and cutting the vegetables that need chopping. She's fast, and Caleb feels the relief in his workload almost immediately. He cant help repeatedly glimpsing at her, trying to subtly gage the emotions on her face.
She rings in an order for table 8 before looking directly at him as he clears his throat.
"So... your alarm didn't ring? You're usually here before anyone else. " he asks, his tone light and inquisitive. She looks up at him, her expression changing to being a bit closed off. "It's not a bad thing, pips. It's human to be late sometimes. I was starting to think you lived here "
She laughs awkwardly, avoiding his eye. He slows down, peering down at her. She's definitely hiding something he thinks, before playfully nudging her shoulder. "Pipsqueak… do you have something to tell me?"
She rolls her eyes a bit before shaking her head fondly. "Well…. I kinda had an interview in another kitchen." She admits meekly, and he hates himself for the way the bitterness creeps into his lungs. He should be happy for her. "Really? That's amazing?. How'd it go."
She looks at him closely, and even he knows she knows him too well not not notice how much the news distresses him. She bumps his shoulder back." Worst day ever. It was halfway across the city. "
"Hmm. That's far." He says coolly, trying to keep his voice even.
"Come on, Caleb. Don't be upset." She says, a light whine in her tone.
"I'm not upset…I'm just a little surprised, is all." He replies, practically glaring at the carrot he's cutting with a little too much force. "You should've told me."
"I was going to! It was supposed to be done before our shift even started so I could report to captain Caleb after, but they kept me waiting so long." She explained sincerely.
''Well, how was it?"
"You have no idea. I had to take the train all the way there, and i waited all morning, but they forgot about me and didn't even interview me." she admits, looking defeated.
Caleb wants to rejoice with happiness, but he couldn't be that cruel. "That's kind of terrible. Did they reschedule?"
"No. They said they found someone and they wouldn't want to waste another day on someone who works in this restaurant." She replies bitterly.
"They said that?"
"Not really, but it felt like it."
Caleb chuckles at her reply.
"I'm kind of glad it didn't happen. I would've missed you" she admits.
"You don't have to say that to make me feel better" he says playfully, feeling even more giddy when she whips up her head to glare at him. "Okay, okay. I know you would've missed me. Who else would sneak you these lovely treats?" he asks, handing her a blueberry muffin, which she takes gratefully.
She just finishes eating it when one of the waiter barges in, looking stressed out of his mind.
"Which one of you were on table 8?"
"Me." Xera replies and before Caleb can stop her, the waiter wheels her out onto the table looking for her.
Caleb tries to focus on the pasta he is making but he can't, not without knowing what is happening to Xera on the floor. He tells Liam to hold down the fort and goes out after her, narrowly avoiding the owners gaze as he sneaks past.
Just as he fears, when he gets to table 8, the couple at the table are yelling at Xera, and his blood boils at the way she just stands there listening, looking genuinely so upset and apologetic he wanted to punch someone. The waiter notices him and before he can get a word in Caleb rushes forward instantly, pulling Xera behind him as he situates himself between her and the couple.
"What are y-"
"My apologies, Sir, Madam, I believe there's been a mix up. I was the chef on your dishes. Please tell me what went wrong instead." He lies sincerely, his grip still on Xera's wrist. The couple have only gotten angrier at this change and start yelling louder, but Caleb couldn't care less. He is right where he wants to be. He lets go of Xera and nudges her to go back to the kitchen, away from this fiasco. She listens.
20 minutes when he returns to the kitchen, his somber expression melts into a grin at the door.
"Caleb! Why did you do that? I messed the dish up, not you." Xera scolds.
"I needed some fresh air, a break from cooking. They were yelling for no reason too. I know the likes of them. Something about the ratio of pasta sauce, but they ate it all before complaining. " he insists, looking a bit too pleased with himself.
"Still, you shouldn't have to be yelled at because of me." Xera replies, looking guilty.
"Hey, it wasn't because of you, plus I taught you everything around here. If anyone should be yelled at, it's me. " Seeing her frowning, he adds "next time, we'll send Liam. How does that sound?"