Work Text:
At first, Rody had worked for Vincent because he was desperate for a job (and he wanted Manon to come back.) Though he wouldn’t admit the last part out of shame for his desperation. But in the end, after trying and trying to call her back she only answered one time to say that she didn’t want to get back together not because she didn’t love him, but she was worried that he was becoming to attached to her in a unhealthy way that wasn’t normal. And after hearing that, something changed in him, he realized that, in the time period they had started dating, he depended so heavily upon her that it was almost like she was his entire personality, like he was no one without her. So after a bit of working on himself and pleading to Vincent to hire him back and promising he wouldn’t just randomly resign from his job, life felt pretty good, not amazing but good and Rody was fine with that. Him and Manon would occasionally meet up and chat about whatever was happening in their lives or gossip about work drama. He would even talk with Vincent during closing, which to him was also a win because maybe he was starting to get on the colder ones good side and he would maybe get to know him more. Even though Vincent looked pretty emotionless and cold, which with others he was, he was able to just converse with Rody like they were just friends hanging out. He was still Vincent, don’t get me wrong, but he didn’t treat Rody like he did the other cooks. Sometimes Manon would point it out just to watch Rody get all flustered and defensive, sure he had random hookups with men in the past, and one serious relationship before Manon that he didn’t even like to consider a relationship, he never really thought of having another long term relationship with a man. Though a part of him didn’t completely rule out the idea of being in a relationship with Vincent, he was lean, and he had jet black hair that he often wondered how it felt under his touch, how it felt when pulled. But when he had said thoughts, he would brush it off with the fact that he would never feel any actual romantic attraction to the other and just saw him as an attractive man in general! Thought that entire image was shattered when what he liked to deem the “incident” happened.
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It was a busy day at the bistro and Rody was determined to have a good shift. The past few days had been going quite well for him after a long part of his life spiraled down hill, he knew that he let himself get into that position and after talking it out he realized how miserable and depressed he had been. And he didn’t want to get back into that grove again, so he had started cleaning up his apartment bit by bit after getting home from his shifts instead of just flopping down onto his couch like a lazy bum. And after a bit, it wasn’t perfect, but he had gotten a few dishes from a couple upstairs who was selling their stuff because they were moving across the country and he was also able to walk across his apartment without stepping on trash. And Vince had also been willing to give him his position back as a waiter at the bistro since no one had applied for the job yet.
So to him, life was good, until a man and what seemed to be his family walked in. The woman was nice and respectful, though she spoke softly so at times it was hard to hear what she was saying. The two older kids that had to be in their early 20s were nice but were a bit loud. The man however, didn’t even acknowledge him when he treated the party and asked what they would like to drink, just like he would at any other table. When he was able to get his attention he merely glanced at him and asked for him to bring out a pinot Grigio and to make it quick cause he didn’t want Rody slacking off. It wasn’t abnormal to have rude or demanding customers here, but something about this one in particular gave him the vibe of “I will do anything in my power to make you feel bad so I can feel good” kinda vibes. Hence making sure that he would be extra accommodating so he didn’t accidentally set guy off and ruin the experience for his family and the other customers, also Vince would kill him if he was the cause of some random customer’s temper tantrum. And though as much as he wanted to avoid the party he new that would just end up in them all being upset, so he held his chin up high as he took a deep breath and walked over to them so he could collect their order and give it to the kitchen.
“Hello, have you guys decided what you want to order?” He asked
“Ah yes, I would like an appetizer please.” The woman replied
“Yes and we will both have a main please.” The other two responded
“Alrighty then, as for you sir?” Rody had turned his attention to the man who was sitting their with a sour look on his face
“I want a main and be quick you were very slow when coming out with our drinks.” He remarked rather harshly
“Oh I’m sorry I had some other tables to attend to but I’ll make sure to be as quick as a can.”
And to that the man grumbled in response and Rody made sure to check the window for the tables food so he wouldn’t be publicly humiliated by this guy, though he doubted that he could do much damage. But when Rody went into the kitchen he realized that one of the chefs were missing and that Vincent wasn’t in the corner nor outside taking a smoke. He didn’t know the exact reason why the chef was gone, but he overheard the other chefs whisper about an “allergic reaction” and “Vincent going to take them to get medical help” and he hoped that the chef was okay. Now knowing the reason for it being just slightly off rhythm and why dished were appearing at a much slower pace (the cook that had gone was the fastest of them) he made sure to let the other tables know of the slight hold up. But when he came to back around to that table with their food explaining the hold up, the older man seemed to perk up like he just said that he just won the lottery. Rody had no idea why but then was shock when he was interrupted with the man yelling at him about how this was unacceptable behavior and that he was a disappointment and was embarrassing the bistro as a whole.
“Your entire performance tonight has been absolutely horrendous. I can’t believe that Chef Charbonneau hired a fucking scumbag like you, this is one of the easiest jobs and you still manage to fuck it up!” The man roared as he continued to throw insult after insult in hopes to make him react in some manner.
“I’m terribly sorry that you haven’t been enjoying your experience but since an emergency showed up with one of our waiters we are one short and have been trying to adjust. If you like I could have one of the chefs warm up your food again or remake it?” Rody offered politely, even though he wanted to punch this pice of shit in the face and tell him to get the fuck out of here and that he was not welcome back, but, he knew that would get him a major scolding and even fired by Vincent if he did so. And he needed this job, therefore offering his best customer service smile as he waited for a reply from the other. But it seemed to further anger the man that he wasn’t able to get a rise out of the waiter, so he grabbed his wine glass and poured it over his head and dropped the glass by his feet. And before Rody could even begin to process what just happened he had a main shoved in his face as that too, fell to the ground and breaking. Though the lunch rush was over and there were only a few people in the room, he could feel the eyes watching him, burning a lines through him. He could hear people pause mid sentence as they watched everything go down. Never in his life has he wanted to disappear more, he just wanted to cry, but he wasn’t about to give this man the satisfaction he wanted. But he also didn’t say anything to stop the older man from calling him colorful words. He didn’t even hear him, he had just tuned him out as he just stood there and took it. But after the table tried to get the man to stop, and inevitably just started arguing with each other, there was one thing that made everyone stop talking, including the entitled man.
“What the hell happened!?” Vincent’s voice echoed through the pin drop silent room as everyone turned to look at the man. Rody, caught out of his spiral turned to look at his boss just like everyone else had done. Vincent walked over and with each step Rody began to worry that he was about to get fired. When he arrived at the table where the cause of the incident happened, he turned to Rody, his face softening just the slightest and told him to go in his office and he will meet him there. If Rody thought he was getting fired a minute ago, he didn’t know what was happening now, but the way that Vince told him to meet him in his office was different. It had no undertones of anger or annoyance, and if he did he doubted it was towards him and more directed to the rude customer