Chapter Text
Another day.
Another customer.
Rinse and repeat.
The late-shift rush at Builder Brothers Pizza was a special kind of exhausting, the kind you got used to. The kind that settled deep into your bones, into your muscles and into your very core. The kind that made your eyes blur when you stared at the register for too long. But you keep going, on autopilot— just getting by.
You rolled up your sleeves, wiping counters, the soft fabric of your uniform feeling impossibly tight, almost claustrophobic. Your skin itching for you to leave— take it off. But you continue, time will come for that. The thought of your shift being nearly over urged you forward to keep going with a flickering sense of relief and quiet peace, settling lightly against your conscience.
Your gaze wandered to the large windows of the restaurant, the glow of the moon having lit up the outside in an almost melancholic light. Distant silhouettes of people taking nightly walks visible nearby, muffled nearly impossible to hear voices— somehow grounding.
"You're going to scrub the laminate of the counter if you keep doing that, Y/N."
A voice broke you out of your strange trance, a jolt racking through your body in surprise before disappearing as quickly as it came. Your eyes look to the side and notice Elliot standing at the doorway to the kitchen.
"Sorry, I got a bit distracted." You murmured, voice scratchy and visibly exhausted from the heat of the place, from speaking to customers. You fold up the rag and put it back in a cabinet below the counter. "Have you finished back there?"
The words came out sounding a little too hopeful, too pitiful for your liking, but you brushed the feeling off.
Elliot let out a soft huff, a proud smile on his lips as he crossed the threshold to you. "All done!"
His voice was soft, a stark and very pleasant contrast to what you've heard all day, lack of attitude, lack of demanding. He leaned against the smooth surface and looked at you with a quiet intensity— a strange one, the one that made the frantic energy of the day melt away in a heartbeat. His finger softly tapped against your chest pointedly.
"It's time to turn autopilot off my darling dear. Let's get out of here." The gesture and the words that came from Elliot lifted an invisible weight off of your chest that seemed to accompany you throughout most of the day. Instead a warmth filling your chest, relief, the worries of earlier washing away.
A breath escaped your lungs that you hadn't noticed you were holding, your lips curving slightly into a genuine smile. "That might be the best idea you've had all day."
"Hey, I have plenty of great ideas." Elliot teased, his fingers lingering on your shoulder. When did he grab your shoulder? You were suddenly hyper aware of his warm hand on you— but the feeling vanished when he seemed to slip past you, presence just close enough to brush against your side. "I'll grab my keys and we'll head out."
"Hurry up." You said, your voice finally losing that exhausted edge. "The sooner we get out of here the better."
"Just a minute, promise!" He replied with a faint wink, his figure disappearing back through the door he had crossed just a few minutes ago— although this time with a lightness to his step that only showed up at the end of the day. While you two were alone.
You leaned against the counter, letting your eyes drift back to the large front windows, waiting for him. The peace of the night was like a lingering promise, causing your mind to drift off— think about the refreshing breeze of the outside.
Suddenly you heard the faint metallic jingle of keys come from behind. Then quiet. Then the sound of a heavy click of the back door being locked. You shifted your weight, the discomfort of your uniform for once bearable today, now that the clock was on your side.
Footsteps approached the kitchen threshold again, slow and unhurried this time. The soft illumination of the moon through the storefront glass caught the edges of the room, casting long, peaceful shadows over the empty dining tables, turning the mundane pizza parlor into something soft— uncharacteristically soft, something you'd never admit earlier during the day.
The heavy swinging door to the kitchen creaked open, and Elliot stepped back into the main lobby. He had swapped his work uniform for a faded, comfortable jacket that looked loose on his shoulders perhaps a little too big for him, his car keys clinking softly between his fingers.
"Look at you," he murmured, his voice incredibly gentle as he walked over to join you by the desk. "You're already halfway out the door in your head, aren't you?"
"Can you blame me?" you asked softly, turning your head to meet his gaze. In the dimming light of the parlor, the sharp, fluorescent edges of the workday felt miles away.
"Not at all," Elliot said, stepping into your space. He reached around your arm, hooking yours with his. A gesture that caused your heart to skip a single beat.
"You know," he started quietly, his eyes drifting back down to lock onto yours with that same strange, heavy intensity from before. "The rush was brutal today. But honestly... the end of the shift is always my favorite part of the day."
Your heart fluttered against your ribcage, the earlier warmth spreading a little wider than before. "Because the work is done?"
"Because the work is done." Elliot's voice echoed, his voice soothing, so soothing that it seemed to make the room smaller. His arm was firm around yours, a clear lack of escape being left for you. "And because I get to walk you home without a hundred things pulling at my attention."
Your cheeks couldn't help but dust with a flush of pink at that, a small, grateful smile on your face. Somehow he always managed to make you forget about the tired muscles— about the forsaken uniform. A profound peace surrounding you instead.
He gave your sleeve a tiny, affectionate tug, a soft chuckle vibrating in his chest, knowing eyes gazing up at you. "Come on, I can see that you're ready to fall asleep right here on the counter."
You let out a soft, defeated huff, your smile widening as you reluctantly unglued yourself from counter. Your arm remained securely hooked with his, the steady weight and warmth of his side pressing against yours as you moved together. "I'm not. I was just... appreciating the quiet."
As you reached the heavy glass entrance, Elliot finally let his arm slip from yours, though the sudden absence of his warmth left your skin tingling. The keys jingled softly in his palm before he secured the entrance.
Elliot turned back to you, the moonlight caught the curve of his cheekbone, shadowing his eyes in a way that made the breath catch in your throat. "You worked way too hard today. You always do. You don't have to carry the weight of this whole place on your own, you know."
You took a half-step closer to him. "I know. But I promised not to let you carry the burden of this place alone. It's my choice."
Elliot's breath hitched as his lips pulled into a thin line, his gaze turning a little timid, his finger pulling on the sleeve of his jacket nervously. He was never good with taking compliments.
You watched as a boyish flush crept over Elliot's cheeks, darkening the skin just below the shadow of his messy blonde hair. He cleared his throat softly, his eyes dropping to the floor briefly— just for a moment, before darting back up to meet yours.
"You always know exactly what to say to make things easier, don't you?" he murmured, a soft, helpless quality entering his voice. "I'm glad you're here for me."
You can't help but grab his hand, pulling him away from the restaurant with a smile at the words.
The unexpected warmth of your fingers wrapping around his caught him completely by surprise. Elliot let out a small, startled breath, but his fingers instinctively closed around yours.
You both fell into a lazy, unhurried rhythm, walking side-by-side down the familiar, quiet streets. The earlier melancholic moonlight that had looked so lonely through the restaurant windows now felt different. But you can't exactly pinpoint in what way.
The walk back was filled with a comforting, easy silence. The exhausting routine of the day felt miles away, completely forgotten.
Before long, the familiar steps of your apartment building came into view. You two walked up to the small stoop and your body instinctively turned to face him, not yet entering, his hand not yet leaving yours.
"Well, we made it." He murmured, his voice a little less enthusiastic than earlier, a shadow of disappointment managing to sneak into the tone. Your fingers brushed over his knuckles soothingly, having noticed the change.
You leaned in for a regular parting hug. But as you were just about to wrap your arms around Elliot he had shifted, your embrace missing it's mark, bringing your faces close. Too close. So close that you felt his warm breath against your lips.
For a fraction of a second your body froze, you could swear the time had stopped completely. Elliot looked up at you with wide eyes— yet he didn't pull away. In fact, just before your brain could fully process your position he leaned in the rest of the way.
The kiss was unexpected, soft, unhurried. His lips pressing against yours with a gentle, hesitant warmth that sent a jolt of electricity straight through your chest.
You didn't even realise when his arms had wrapped around your neck, pulling your lips tighter. The kiss was sweet. Feeling like something that was awaiting to happen for a long time. Any worries from the day that were leftover in your minds had disappeared the moment your lips made contact.
When he pulled away, his breath was shallow. A dark crimson flush graced his cheeks under the porch light. You could swear he looked up at you a little dazed, but you're sure you did too. Elliot smiled up at you to the best of his ability after what he'd just done and whispered:
"Goodnight."