Chapter Text
Pierre was currently jobless because his dog walking business got shut down, after he let over 20 dogs loose in the Champ de Mars. So he was in need of a job, and fast, because he was at risk of losing his small apartment. The apartment wasn't anything special—with one small bedroom and an even smaller kitchen—but it had the most perfect view of the Eiffel Tower, which Pierre thought was astonishing.
Sulky, Pierre was walking down a long stretch of restaurants, hoping to find a good place to eat, reasonably spending his last bit of money on a tasty meal. Promptly, Pierre stopped in front of Tsunoda Dining, gazing up at it's sign with 3 stars at the very top of the large building, he winced at the thought of their food. He's eaten there one, with his parents when he was fairly young, they decided to eat fancy after months of hard work from their low paying jobs.
The restaurant was relatively new at the time and the owners would kindly greet the guests who came in. He could recall that it was a married couple, Japanese to be exact, on account of the name Tsunoda Dining. Pierre hopes that they are both in good health as he diverts his gaze from the sign. He sighs, slightly saddened by the memory. Before he could walk away, something caught his attention in his peripheral vision, it was a "hiring waiters" sign. This gives hope to Pierre, he could get a job as a waiter and make money off of it. It wasn't too hard to be a waiter right? Pick up food, place it down, definitely easier than trying to handle 20 dogs at once.
Pierre takes the entire hiring poster without thinking and runs his way home, forgetting he was going to eat out. He opens his laptop and writes out a resume, he quickly finds that his resume sucks, since he hasn't had many jobs other than his dog walking business. He adds that he's French, thinking it will help his chances of actually getting the job. He's French, they're in France, it was perfect, to Pierre at least.
-
Yuki was the owner of his very successful family diner, Tsunoda Dining. It's not usually stressful for Yuki, saying he does own the restaurant at only 25, but it has its perks. Everything was going well, when one of their waiters quit on the spot after a party of 30 had a walk in with no prior announcement. They were extremely low on waiters and they had a plethora of guests everyday, Yuki just needed to put up a "hiring waiters" sign outside. Who wouldn't want to work in a fancy 3 Michelin star restaurant, get paid 25 euros an hour, and work with a great group of people?
Apparently only one guy did. Yuki sighed and looked at the application form, Pierre Gasly was his name. 29 years old, no prior experience in serving, "appreciated food", whatever that meant and was a dog walker. Yuki sighed once more, he had to hire the guy, since there was not another soul who wanted the job, and he needed an extra waiter fast. Yuki found that bizarre, it was a popular restaurant, maybe Yuki should've put up more than just a poster?
He wrote a "You're Hired!" email to Pierre Gasly and sent it. He told the French man to come on the earliest date he could, hopefully that was tomorrow. But for now Yuki needed to go back to tending to his kitchen, It was still around rush hour.
-
Pierre woke up one late evening, receiving a notification from his laptop. He rubs his eyes and rises up from his bed, sleepily, focusing his attention on the screen of his laptop. It was a long paragraph, but Pierre wasn't nearly awake enough to read all of it, all he saw was "You're Hired!" in the first sentence. He was stunned at the quick response to his application, it was only a day later and he was already hired. Pierre was relieved that he didn't have to go through an interview with the owner of the restaurant, he was scared of bosses if he's gonna be honest. That's why he made his own business walking dogs.
It was the middle of the day so he assumed that it was too late to start his first day, but having a quick peak inside the establishment never hurt anyone. Pierre put on his fanciest clothes—dress pants, dress shirt and his one suit coat he owned—and left the house taking his keys and wallet with him, saying goodbye to his dog. He set foot in his car and pressed the gas heading to the restaurant.
He lived about 30 minutes away from the restaurant but Pierre made it 20, he wasn't exactly one to follow road rules. When he arrived he entered the doors and was met at the front with a host posted behind a lectern. He gave Pierre a questionable look, then stated "Welcome to Tsunoda Dining, what pleasures do I have attending you, sir." Pierre stood there frozen, was he supposed to say he was the new waiter, didn't really seem like the time, but he didn't really have the money for a proper meal.
"Oh, I'm the new waiter, but if you don't exactly need me right now, I could leave. Wait, question, if I have no prior experience do I have to go through training? I kind of assumed it was just moving around food.. Right?" Pierre felt he was rambling on, so he shut up, noticing the confused look on the host's face. He could see his name tag, "Nico Hülkenberg." The host then made an "o" with his mouth, "Yes, the new waiter. Please come this way, we're very low on waiters and yes you do need training with no prior experience but it's fairly easy."
Nico guided Pierre to the back, Pierre accidentally bumping shoulders with one of the other waiters while he was entering the back. He couldn't see his name but he did spot the letter "Oc", before the waiter angrily snarled and turned away. Attention back to Nico, he was now in the kitchen of the restaurant, it was enormous, practically bigger than Pierre's entire apartment. Nico stopped in front of a large door near the back of the kitchen, "Chef Executive, Yuki", Pierre spotted above the door. Seemingly this was the big boss of the restaurant, Pierre would be lying if he said he wasn't scared, petrified even. Nico hit the back of his knuckles against the big door, "You may enter," the two of them collectively heard, Nico slowly opened the door. As if they were in a movie, there was a large desk in the middle of the room and a grand chair turned away from the door. The chair steadily spun around, revealing a small man seated on the chair—this confused Pierre a bit—the executive chef was more cute than intimidating, wait… cute? Whatever, Pierre waved it off.
The stern look on the Japanese man quickly disappeared and turned into a look of surprise. "Please tell me you're the new waiter," he gave Pierre a pleading look, then turned to Nico, "Esteban's this close to quitting," he said as he made a gesture with his thumb and index finger closely hovering over one another. Nico, incredulously, sighed "yes." The man dipped his head forwards with a sigh of relief. His attention still on Nico, "You can go back to the front, I'll speak to the new hire." Nico backed up out of the door and slowly closed the door, The man at the desk reverted his attention to Pierre.
"Please take a seat," he gestured to the chair in front of his large desk. Pierre took a seat and looked around the desk ahead of him, noticing the large Yuki Tsunoda name tag to his left. Yuki began, "So, is Pierre Gasly correct?" Pierre, now looking at Yuki, "Yes that's me," Pierre said with a polite smile, trying to make a good first impression—as if his resume wasn't enough for Yuki. "Good okay, I'll find someone to train you, the job is easy enough for someone with no prior experience," Yuki said with a slight of disappointment in his tone of voice. "Please come in at 7 AM every morning, the job isn't easy but it pays well," Yuki states with worry in his voice, like he might scare Pierre away.
He abruptly stands up, stands in front of the door and looks back at Pierre, signaling for Pierre to follow him. Yuki led Pierre across the kitchen the same way Nico did earlier, he saw many people in the kitchen, most of them looked nice, some looked quite serious about their job. Yuki and Pierre now at the pass—where the food went when it was ready to serve—waited, patiently, for one of the waiters to come around. An older man came to the pass, eyeing Pierre with interest. "May this be the new waiter, Yuki?" The older man pats Yuki on his arm. "Yes and I need you to train him please, quickly but efficiently."
The older man flashes Yuki a smile with a thumbs up and pulls Pierre aside, placing him in front of him. He smiles once more, "Okay new guy, the job is quite a lot but you will learn easily! Come, you will shadow me for, maybe, the next 5 tables, okay?" The older man waves his hand for Pierre to follow him, but he stops, "Oh yes, my name is Fernando Alonso, I've been working here for a while, even when it was Yuki's parents running this thing" he motions around the building. "I'm Pierre Gasly, how long exactly have you been here?" He looks at Fernando expectantly. "No matter for now, Pierre," he laughs, as he picks up food he makes sure Pierre is behind him.
Pierre shadowing Fernando went as well as you think it would go. He watched him guide people to their tables, take orders, drinks, pick up food from the pass, clean up dishes, seems easy enough. Pierre felt like he should've been taking notes, but he just awkwardly hovered around Fernando. It was now time for Pierre to be the one to serve and Fernando needed to inspect him.
A group of 7 walked into the restaurant, all wearing fancy clothing, and Pierre hurriedly approached them. "Group of how many?" Pierre asked politely, "I assume you can count," one of the people uttered. Rude, Pierre thought, obviously he knew there were 7 people, just what if there would be more people in the party later. "Well yes, sorry, please come this way" Pierre grabs a handful of menus and directs the group to a large table. He places the menus on top of the table, "would you like something to drink?" Motioning to the entire table. The table took turns saying what they wanted, Pierre made a mental note. That probably wasn't the best idea.
"Do you remember what they all wanted?" Fernando asked, jokingly. "No," Pierre sadly stated. Fernando sighed and handed him a piece of paper, "here, their orders." Pierre took the list and scanned it with his eyes. He then proceeds to bring the orders to the bartender. On his way there he seems to notice another man posted at the bar, chatting freely—happily even—with the bartender.
Pierre reaches the bar and holds the paper nervously in front of him, "do you want me to take it, mate?" British. Pierre extends his arm, "Right, sorry, here," the bartender takes the list and looks at it carefully. "You must be the new guy, explaining why Fernando's behind you. I'm George Russell," he reached out his arm, Pierre shook his hand. The guy who was speaking to the bartender speaks up, "so you're the replacement for our old waiter," the man straightens his back from leaning on the counter and states, "I'm Max Verstappen, Chef de Cuisine," Pierre shook his hand. George quickly comes back with all 7 drinks, "that was fast?!" George grins confidently, "What can I say, I'm good at my job," He then winks at Max. Pierre can see the tips of Max's ears faintly turn red, he can't confirm this because of the low lighting so he ignores it.
Pierre takes the drinks on his tray and—very slowly—brings them back to the large group, handing out the beverages one by one. He leaves them to give them time to think about their orders. Once Pierre makes it back to the kitchen he lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Being a waiter isn't too hard, now is it?" Fernando, hitting Pierre on his back, Pierre looked at Fernando with a pleading look in his eyes.
Pierre went back out after a while—with a small notebook—and asked everyone for their orders. He was overwhelmed by how many orders there were, can the kitchen even make all of this? Pierre took the orders back to the kitchen, only giving them the appetizers. Many salads and dumplings made their way back to Pierre, balancing all of it on a tray. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Fernando complained, "efficiency is key! Besides I won't drop it?" Fernando set his face into his hands, groaning "Please.."
As if on cue, the same man who ran into Pierre at the start was rolling a large cart stacked with dishes started speeding his way. Pierre didn't quite see it coming and—obviously—he dropped everything. Gasps from surprised staff and guests chirped around him, Yuki ran out to the front. Frozen by shock, Yuki didn't say anything. Yuki kept a calm composure and dragged Pierre to his office, "Fernando could you attend the party instead," "Gladly."
-
This was a disaster, how could Pierre have messed up on his first—half—day. Now he's basically in time out, Pierre is sitting in a room with the sous chef, Charles Leclerc. He was writing stuff in a journal, Pierre assumes, and from time to time glancing at Pierre. Then, Charles starts laughing, as bemused Pierre was, he was relieved.
"I cannot believe you did that." Charles said with an amused look in his eyes, was he laughing at Pierre or because of Pierre? "I'm confused.. are you, like, mad or anything?" Charles rested his chin on his palm after calming down. "No, not really! Being the head chef I am, it's just so hard to keep it serious. This kitchen could really use some fun once in a while." He looked at Pierre, stared for a while, "my break is soon, so I'll be leaving for a while. I'm assuming you can just roam the kitchen, just, y'know don't distract people too much. Get to know the people! They're great!"
Pierre thought about the people he has met, they're all relatively nice, nothing to worry about. It's a 3 Michelin star restaurant, surely the workers know what they're doing and how to be polite.
-
After Charles left for his lunch break, Pierre exited the little room and out into the kitchen. Everyone looked busy except a little group of people in the corner. They appeared to also be on their lunch break, except they can't quite leave the building. He made his way over to them, sitting in a chair opposite of the group.
As soon as he sat down they all smiled at him. "Quite the stir you made earlier, I'm surprised Yuki didn't fire on the spot," the tall man stated. "I'm Alex Albon, I handle all the desserts-or, so to say the pattisier. As the French would say." "You do know we're all in France right now, it's basically what all of us would say.." The man who replied had curly brown hair. "Shhhh, Lando, not all of us know French," Lando, now annoyed, "You live in France, I expect you to know it." "I live in France for the vibes, not the funky language with a million exceptions."
Alex and Lando kept on bickering while the other man at the table caught Pierre's attention. He reached his hand out to shake Pierre's, "I'm Carlos Sainz, I'm the rotisseur, and yes Alex and Lando are always arguing, I'm not sure how they do it." Pierre gave a polite smile to Carlos. Sighed, "I don't know how I messed up on my first day.." Pierre gave in. "Happens to the best of us! Not me though, Lando maybe." Lando gasps at what Carlos said. "What's with the random disses?!"
Max then peeked his head into the kitchen, "Get back to work you three! Your breaks are over!" The three men collectively groaned, getting up to go back to their stations spread across the kitchen.
Carlos and Alex had already made their way halfway before Lando abruptly turned around. "Oh right, I'm Lando Norris," he had an annoyingly giddy smile on his face, "I'm the grillardin." Pierre shook his hand and Lando—practically—skipped his way back to his grills.
-
Pierre looked around the kitchen, people shuffling around each other with perfect precision, like they practiced it. The sound of pots and pans moving around counter to counter, water boiling, people shouting orders. Everyone looked so comfortable, like they were born for this job. Even though Pierre still sucked at every job he has had, he somehow was still here.
A man approached Pierre while he was sitting like a duck in the corner of the kitchen. He was sort of tall, had flowy brown hair that perfectly fell into place, and had a cat-like look to him. "Uhm, you're Pierre right? If so, Yuki is looking for you in his office. He sounded mad..?" Pierre stood up, meeting the boy at eye level, he had a mix of an Australian and British accent.
Pierre looked hapless, and the boy walked him over to Yuki's office. "Good luck, mate," the man said as Pierre took a deep breath and pulled open the large office doors. Yuki, who is sitting patiently at his desk, said, "Pierre Gasly, please sit."
Pierre practically shuddered under the tone of his voice. He sat down in the chair, the same chair as when he officially got the job, now he's about to lose it glued to it again. When he lifted his head he saw the look in Yuki's eyes. He didn't seem mad, more like, disappointed?
"I'm not firing you," Yuki said as he looked deeply into Pierre's eyes. "However, you are not excused for almost making me lose customers. You'll be put into a temporary job, helping around the kitchen, other than serving our—already prepared—food."
Pierre, who was looking at Yuki with gleaming eyes. Quickly, he took the man's hands. "Thank you so much, Yuki- I mean boss!" Yuki staring down at their conjoined hands, "yeah, yeah... I just really need employees right now." Pierre quickly realized what he was distracted by and released his hands, as heat was now creeping up Pierre's neck.
Yuki sighed, which almost sounded like a laugh, "Max will tell you what to do, so go find him." Pierre smiled again, looking back at Yuki while he exits the office.
-
"Have you seen Max?" Pierre went to all the people he knew around the kitchen, since he couldn't find him. Yuki gave Pierre no instructions, only that Max knew what to do. No one seemed to know where he was as it was Charles' turn to take over, so Pierre decided that he could take this time to explore the restaurant to its fullest.
There was a little room behind the kitchen, a break room. There was a coffee table with a love seat in front of it, also a large TV. There was a mini bar next to all of it, bottles on top of bottles across the wall.
Pierre went out the back door finding a long dark alley between the rather large building which neighboured other buildings, he went back inside immediately. He was strolling around the front—avoiding the table he failed to serve—when he was met with a server he hadn't met yet.
"Esteban Ocon," the man stated. He extended his arm, Pierre shook his hand. "Sorry for bumping into you earlier, it was an accident," Pierre hoped that was enough for an apology. Esteban looked at him with reproach, "no, my fault for not looking where I was going." He slipped past Pierre heading to the new customers.
Pierre exhaled, shaking his head and walking off. He realized George wasn't at his post in the bar while exploring. Didn't see him in the kitchen either, weird.
Pierre decided to take a break from exploring when another small group of 3 people took a break, sitting down in the little circle. He felt dizzy from all the obstacles that came his way, so he let his head fall to the table, while the group kept talking. The group looked way younger than the last, one had curly brown hair, who laughed at every joke, the other seemed to be from France, and lastly one made one too many jokes.
Pierre slowly drifted off into sleep, rewarding himself with the relief of letting go of the burdens he had, which he didn't have since he created burdens for other people. He was snapped awake later by Max Verstappen, the sous chef he was searching for.
"Wakey, wakey, you're still on the clock Gasly," Pierre shook his tiredness away and looked bemusedly at Max. He sighed at Pierre's lackluster attempt at trying to keep his job, "Yuki told you to come to me right?" Pierre nodded his head in agreement, "okay well, your job is fairly easy as if it wasn't before."
Max told Pierre all he was doing was helping around the kitchen. The boucher needed fish from the bottom level of the kitchen? Bring it to him. The escuelierie needed help with the dishes? Help him out. Easy as one, two, three.
-
Pierre sighed as Max walked away but then got to work. He heard someone shout his name from across the kitchen, and he arrived right away. It was a blonde man who seemed to be from New Zealand, "you're Pierre right?" Pierre gave the affirmative, "Nice, okay, I'm Liam Lawson, kitchen porter, we've basically got the same job for now I've heard."
Pierre looked at Liam expecting some competition, but he seemed happy enough to be sharing a job with someone. "It's genuinely exhausting running up and down the stairs trying to get everything on the right level, thank god you're here." Liam says with an exaggerated tone.
"I'm actually on my break for now, so you're on your own, mate." He pats Pierre on his back with a mischievous smile on his face and walks to the break room in the back.
-
The job is hell, Pierre doesn't know how Liam handles it all. He's been running up and down and round and round across the entire double tiered kitchen. Every second someone needs something, and every time Pierre has to be the one getting said something.
He hasn't sat down since he got placed in this temporary hell, how was this supposed to be easier than serving food. Charles was now back in the kitchen while Max made his way back to the bar, and he stood on the second floor observing Pierre.
At least someone looked like they were heaving fun, or whatever. Pierre finally had a second to rest so he headed to the room where Charles continued to do whatever he did in the kitchen. "Mate, you looked very funny out there, you practically flinched every time someone called your name!"
"Thanks for the motivation, Charles." He smiled at Pierre, "I'm sure it'll all be over by tomorrow and Liam can be the one struggling once again." I hope, Pierre thought.
-
It was not over by tomorrow and apparently he had the job for the next few weeks, how lovely. He's been getting along with Liam, for the most of it. He was a funny guy and Pierre liked being around him. Pierre got used to other people there as well, mostly Charles, because he found Pierre's clumsiness funny, and he had all the gossip around the kitchen. Pierre had learnt that Lando and the cat boy from earlier have been “secretly” dating for a month now.
Luckily the job is easier with two people, Liam and him, they've divided the tasks. Pierre gathers different meats and vegetables for people, and Liam helps wash dishes and actually prepare some of the food, which Pierre didn't know how to do.
Hopefully Yuki would let Pierre have his simpler job back as being a waiter, and he's heard there would be someone replacing him as a kitchen porter. Some guy named Arvid. Pierre couldn't tell why he didn't just make him a waiter instead.
-
By the next 4 weeks Yuki granted the "wishes" of Pierre and placed him back in the serving job with Fernando, Nico, and Esteban. Arvid quickly got used to the job—unlike Pierre—so he was doing fairly well working with Liam.
Pierre prepped himself to go back into the serving fields, note book and pen in hand, he had his first actual table to serve. It was a simple 3 person party, since the other waiters took the larger groups, for obvious reasons.
The job still wasn't easier, but Pierre knew he could keep the job. The diner was in desperate need of waiters, and desperate times means desperate measures.
-
A few weeks later, Yuki had taken the kitchen staff out for dinner, a fancy Japanese restaurant, outside of the area of course, no competition to their restaurant. They were celebrating it's 22nd anniversary.
They all sat at a very large table. Everyone sitting with their respective social circle, or their age group to be more specific. The "rookies" of the kitchen sat at one end and the "experienced" ones at the other end. They were talking about a plethora of subjects, things to cook in a hurry, the types of customers they've had, sports on TV—specifically Formula One and tennis—and other things.
The sound of cutlery scrapping against plates and glass clinking together crowded the room. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, Pierre could feel a warm feeling surrounding the table. Everyone belonged right where they were, like a puzzle.
Exactly how it felt the one time he recalls coming to the restaurant. He smiles at the thought, Pierre could get used to this, the people, the food, the restaurant.
-
Most people finished their food by now, but it was a Friday and they open later in the day on weekends, so people stood by, wanting to keep talking.
The restaurant has been working for a while under Yuki's management, and Pierre was interested. So he asked Yuki about owning a business, as if he was looking for tips.
"It's not too difficult, don't tell anyone this but I've been working here since I was a kid." Yuki knew his way around the kitchen and the staff by the time he was deemed the owner. "My parents supported me a lot after they gave the business to me. Told me how to manage. Also how to boss people around, so I feel like I stay in control." Yuki had a smile on his face.
"You like this job, don't you?"
"Mhm, I wouldn't be anywhere else. I mean, look at all of this, people working together to create food, it's basically an art form." He tilts his head back, so it rests on the back of the tall chair, "everyone here has a passion for this, and I really appreciate it." He has a deep, sincere look in his eyes, Pierre could tell he would probably be here for the rest of his life, if he could.
The idea makes Pierre smile, "that's nice, it's really nice."
"Isn't it?"
They sit in silence, listening in on other conversations, until they get pulled into different conversation, or more, arguments.
-
By the end of the dinner more than a few people were definitely drunk, too drunk to go home alone, so people started leaving in pairs. Yuki and Max made sure that at least one person in the pair was sober enough to walk.
"Yuki, I'm heading out, bringing George with me." Max waved Yuki goodbye, then he was out the door. Dragging a not so sober George on his shoulder. "You good with Pierre, Yuki?" A voice called out from the other side of the table, it was Carlos.
Pierre and Charles were leaning on each other, trying to stay up right after downing a few too many drinks. "Charles and I live relatively close to each other, I'll take him." Yuki agreed to take Pierre, as he could still drive.
When Carlos was out the door, there was a problem Yuki had now realised. He and Pierre lived on different sides of Paris. This was going to be a late night, Yuki was grateful that it was Saturday tomorrow.
He hauled Pierre into his car, as Pierre hitched a ride from Yuki, and made his way over to Pierre's apartment.
He didn't know where Pierre lived.
Yuki let out a deep sigh, he had to dig important information out of a drunk Pierre. Yuki shook his shoulders, he blinked himself awake. "Yuki? What time is it?" "Late." Yuki stated, clear enough. "Where's your house?" He pointed to the map in his car, Pierre put in an address. Yuki hopes it is his actual address.
When they make it there, Pierre mentions that he could do the rest himself—getting to his apartment—and thanked Yuki. "Thanks Yukino, you're really the nicest man I know." Pierre gives Yuki a sloppy half smile. The nickname makes Yuki turn red, "you let me keep my job after getting rid of multiple customers, finding an alternative, and making sure I learnt how to get around the kitchen."
Pierre backed out of the car, yet Yuki didn't leave until Pierre was fully inside the building where his apartment was located.
Yukino, he thinks. No one has ever given Yuki a nickname before, yet it felt natural falling out of Pierre's mouth. Yuki wonders where he even got it.
-
The next day people came into work with deep hangovers. Yuki contemplated on scolding them for getting too drunk, but he couldn't blame them, Yuki said he would pay for everything. That obviously included drinks.
All he could do was pray people got over it by mid-day.
Something like luck made its way to his restaurant, and everyone was fully functioning by the time hangry customers started coming in.
-
It was a check up day in the kitchen 2 weeks later, which was a more detailed inspection from what Yuki and Max—and supposedly Charles—did. The 3 had to thoroughly ask each staff member one by one how and what they were doing.
Yuki was in charge of the entire main level and the waiters, where the food was made ready for serving.
Max was in charge of the staff with no exact placement in the kitchen—kitchen porters, chefs de tournant, bartender, commis chefs.
Charles had the basement kitchen—the ones who do more of the prepping for the food.
Yuki started with Carlos and Lando, they both work in the same area, with the grills, ovens, and stoves—where all the heat was handled. Carlos was fine, explaining every step very clearly to Yuki. How to season different meat, how high the temperature should be for each type of animal, and how to evenly cook it throughout its entirety.
Lando on the other hand, not so much. He knew how to do the job, yes, obviously Lando had been here for a while. His instructions were not exactly clear. It consisted of many 'Then you do this, and that, and it should end up like this!' He could hear how proud Lando probably was through his tone of voice. At least he works with quality, Yuki pondered.
He quickly moved through Kimi and Lewis, as Kimi showed him how to make various sauces, due to his quick adaptability. Lewis had the experience, for he showed his many vegetarian dishes, and how to handle different vegetables—peeling, cutting, washing. Yuki had trust in Lewis, as he's been working for them since his parents were in charge.
He met Alex near the front of the kitchen. He had delicate hands, showing the precise details in his desserts, how to make it look appealing. A perfect chocolate drizzle truly amazed Yuki.
Lastly, the waiters, this part was usually easy. While instead he found one of his waiters missing, Pierre wasn't present. He watched Fernando, Nico, and Esteban closely. They knew what they were doing, Yuki could easily sort them into the experienced workers. They listened closely to the customers with patience
Pierre on the other hand, not so much.
Pierre had stumbled through the back door, as he met an angry Yuki on the other side. He sighed. "Pierre, want to explain why you're late?" Pierre stared blankly into Yuki's eyes. They were not much filled with anger, more like disappointment, once again. "I had accidentally slept in..."
Pierre stated, sadness filled his voice.
"That's the best excuse you had?" "Not an excuse. The truth." Yuki rubbed his face with his hands. He steered Pierre to the waiter prep station, that was where the aprons, pens, and the pass was.
"Go."
Pierre hurriedly got ready to serve food to paying customers.
Yuki didn't mind the inspection, more time to spend with Pierre, but this was different. As much as Yuki could keep Pierre under his roofs, he still needed to complete a proper inspection, due to health regulations of France. He would never fire Pierre, but if he underperformed, he would likely get fired anyways.
Yuki tried to not pay attention to Pierre's slip ups. Spilling bits of drinks he had on a tray, taking too long placing food on the table, and he still had a problem with balancing multiple things at once.
Yuki couldn't notice it, but he had a soft spot for Pierre already. "I cannot believe it." Max said observing Yuki and Pierre. "What? What are you looking at?" Max ignored George, who was trying to figure out this mystery Max is solving. "Max!"
-
Inspections finished, Pierre, who still has his job, was sitting down in the break room, as the restaurant was now closed. He chatted with some people, if he could recall their names were Kimi, Franco, Valtteri, and Oliver.. or Ollie? No matter paying attention to that. They were talking about some dumb stuff from the internet. Something about a monkey named Punch? They sounded very sad to Pierre for some reason, it was just a monkey after all, Pierre couldn't understand their sympathy.
He got up to help clean the kitchen, putting away plates, pots, utensils, and other sorts of things you find in a kitchen. He ran into Charles, who was also helping to clean. "Mate, I didn't see it, but I heard you came in late. Really Pierre? On inspection day?" Pierre didn't take Charles' comment to heart as he already forgot about it. "I'm surprised I still have a job here!" Charles agreed, "maybe it has something to do with Yuki?" The statement confused Pierre, because what did Yuki have to do with Pierre having a job? "I guess it is up to him to decide, whether I'm fired or not, that is."
That really puts things into perspective, because why would some like Yuki hire all the best chefs around the globe for his restaurant, just to have a not even mediocre waiter?
He better thank Yuki later for going, supposedly, easy on him. As if on queue, Yuki walks out of his office and walks towards the both of them. "Charles, Pierre," Yuki greets the two. The way Yuki said Pierre's name left a weird sensation in the pit of his stomach.
Charles looked at his watch, suspecting something. "Ah, I better head out, as my partner is waiting for me at home." Charles bid his goodbye's to Yuki, Pierre, and everyone else who was still in the kitchen. Slightly patting Pierre on his back.
That left Yuki and Pierre alone in the corner of the kitchen. They were still washing dishes, as their hands slightly brushed whenever they passed a variation of utensils, or plates. The touch lingering for a second too long.
They never mentioned it, but they both knew that it was there. Pierre didn't know why but it left a warm feeling on his fingertips, or knuckles.
The night ended with Pierre helping Yuki fully closing the restaurant. Making sure everything was off, garbage was thrown out, everything back in its place, building locked. They had a small chat on their way to their respective cars, till they both went separate ways. Pierre watched as Yuki drove off into the late nights of Paris.