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Gods & Monsters
chapter two

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CHAPTER TWO
Fucking Softies

PSST. MIYEON looked up to see Sydney peeking out of the kitchen doors. "Hey, Sydney," she greeted the woman with a smile. Sydney returned the smile bashfully. "Can you give me a hand setting this stuff up?" she asked, getting straight to the point. Miyeon hurriedly nodded. She didn't have much else to do now that everything was cleaned. And she was getting tired of listening to the chaos outside. She wiped her hands down over her apron before ducking under the lifted partition. "Thank you so much."

She waved off the gratitude with a shrug. "Don't even worry about it," she replied. Sydney sighed in relief. Only a few people had been so open to her joining the team. And even fewer paid her any kindness. Miyeon was one of them. "Whoa, this smells amazing," she blurted out upon noticing the containers full of food. Sydney's face lit up at the compliment. "Yeah?"

"Yeah! I could dig in literally right now." She looked around them before grabbing one of the unoccupied service trays. Holding it with one hand, she began stacking the containers onto the surface. "I never understood how servers could carry these big trays," Sydney admitted, helping Miyeon pile on the containers. A soft snort left the woman's nose. "Lots of practice," she replied, "and a strong center of balance."

Sydney wasn't sure if she had that perk, but she liked to think that she'd be able to do that one day. Once the tray was full, Miyeon shifted it onto her shoulder for a better grip. "Can you get the door?" Sydney nodded frantically, slipping past the taller girl to catch the door. Miyeon followed, sliding behind her gracefully. It almost looked like she was floating. "Thank you," she hummed, exiting the kitchen to enter the front of the house. "Where do you want it?"

A finger flung toward the big table in the center of the restaurant. Miyeon smiled, following the direction until she stood in front of the table. Slowly, she maneuvered the tray until she could set it down onto the surface. "Thank you so much, Mimi." Miyeon tilted an imaginary hat in response before wiping her hands once more down the front of her apron. She eyed the dishes, eyed Sydney as she began setting up the table.

She definitely had an eye for beautiful things. Miyeon had guessed that much from the first time she had seen Sydney. Anyone could deduct solely from first glance that Sydney was skilled. With what, that was up for interpretation. She stood back, amazed at the intricacy behind the set up. Everything had a specific place, much like the pieces of a puzzle.

"Damn," she exhaled. Sydney chanced a glance over her shoulder, noticing the small smile that caressed the woman's lips. Her chest tightened slightly with anxiety. Her head turned back to the set up. Marks were wiped away. Everything was put in their spot. Sydney sat back, hands moving to her hips. Miyeon watched with sparkling eyes, excitement filling her up to the brim. She was excited to finally get a taste of the masterpiece Sydney had created.

Sydney smiled. "Yo, family's up!" she announced. Miyeon clapped. The ruckus in the kitchen increased as the staff cheered. First out was Sweeps, the lanky man offering the two women a smile. Then it was Fak and Ebraheim. "Oh my gosh. I smell... That looks so good!" the tattooed man exclaimed in amazement. Marcus and Angel came next, along with Tina and Manny. Miyeon took a seat close to the end of the table, looking up as everyone began taking their own seats.

Sweeps sat at the head of the table. Richie approached, snagging the other chair next to her. "What do we got going on over here?" he asked, using the back of her chair to help him ease into his seat. She was already reaching for the plastic cutlery, using the tines of the fork to peel apart the beef. "Yeah, we got a stew, rice, plantains, and a little fennel salad."

Most of the things she had listed, Miyeon had never eaten. She wasn't even sure she knew what fennel even was, but she was raised to try everything. "Alright, I'm interested. Ebra, yo, let's do this." Richie glanced over at the brunette beside him, flashing her a grin. "Got a drink?" he asked. She shook her head. She hadn't even thought to get a drink. "I bring my own. This looks like shit," Ebraheim commented.

Richie brandished a second cup and a bottle of Sprite. She smiled appreciatively as Richie scolded Ebra. "That's not nice," Fak told Ebra. "Not nice." Miyeon glanced around the table before her eyes landed on Carmen. He stood off to the side, gazing out the window at the busy sidewalk. "I don't eat pork," Ebra said.

Her eyes widened then. "Wait, this isn't pork, right?" she asked, her eyes flying toward Sydney. Sydney hurriedly shook her head. "No, no. It's not pork, it's beef," she replied. Marcus leaned back in his seat, a hint of a smile present on his face. "He never eats. Don't worry about him." Ebraheim continued to make excuses, but no one was really listening anymore. Richie coughed, wiping the corners of his mouth. "Alright, alright, I'll start. I'll start," he spoke up over the overlapping conversations. "I'm grateful for Philip K. Dick. Fak, you're up."

"Philip K. Dick?" Miyeon whispered confusedly toward Sweeps. He only shrugged his shoulders. "Me?! Uh, I-I'm tha-- uh... thankful for m-my cats, Ralph." She shoveled a bit of the fennel salad into her mouth, surprised by the flavors that overtook her sense. Her brows furrowed, her expression seeming angry as she looked down at the container. "They both named Ralph?" Tina asked.

Richie seemed to notice the look on her face. A brief laugh rocketed from his nose. "Yeah, it's just, like, it's easier that way," Fak explained. "Ralph and Ralph." The crease in her brow deepened after taking a bite of the beef. "What's up with you?" Richie asked, finally addressing the strange expression she wore. Miyeon's head picked up, the angry expression shifting into one of surprise. "Huh?" she replied, covering her mouth to hide the food still being chewed.

He used his pinky, motioning toward her eyebrows. "You looked pissed off. I didn't think you had any other expression except happy." She almost choked on the food. She snorted, swallowing down the food. "I'm not mad," she replied. "No, I was just enjoying the food."

"You looked ready to kill," Richie argued. She quickly set down her fork and waved her hands out in front of her. "I'm serious. I'm just enjoying... the food. It's really good, Syd." The sous chef smiled appreciatively back at the dark haired girl. Richie looked confused. "Take another bite," he instructed. "They gotta see that face you make."

Warmth spread beneath her skin. She shook her head. "Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen again," she replied. "Probably just a one time thing." He scoffed, but dropped it. He'd catch her another time. "Alright, who's next? Tina, why don't you go, sweetheart." She had taken a water bottle and twisted the cap off. A shy look overpassed her features. "I'm grateful for all y'all motherfuckers," she said, bashfully.

The rest of the kitchen staff began to jeer. Miyeon grinned, taking a sip of her small cup. "You fucking softy," Richie teased her. Marcus cleared his throat. "I guess I'm grateful that... Richie didn't come in here wearing that cologne today that he always be wearing. You know, it smell like a pine tree and shit." She couldn't hide the shaking of her shoulders as she giggled. Marcus grinned. The two reached over the table, bumping knuckles. "Smell like onion under arm," Ebraheim added.

"Alright, alright," Richie tried to calm the laughter, but they weren't having it. He looked out across the table with an affectionate gaze. Miyeon was just about to take another bite when his eyes turned to her. "What about you, huh? What are you grateful for?" She lowered her fork, looking over the table. She pursed her lips for a second before chuckling to herself. "I am grateful for... this food and the company it comes with," she stated matter-of-factly.

Manny clapped his hands. Richie nodded his head, seemingly impressed with her answer. She grinned, cheeks a rosy hue, eyes cutting over to where her boss stood. Carmen was looking over at her, his expression unreadable. She lifted her fork in a toast, watching as his mouth curled into a hint of a smile. Sydney followed her eyes, noticing Carmen hadn't yet sat to eat. "Chef, you want a plate?" she asked, and Miyeon focused back on her own food.

His brows lowered ever so slightly. "All good," he replied. "Thank you, Chef." She nodded her head before turning back to the table. Richie was sitting back as Sweeps went into story mode. Miyeon ate her salad first. It wasn't a total surprise she enjoyed the greens the most. Really, she had always been like that. From the age of eight years old, she declared green to be her favorite color and made a vow to eat anything and everything green. Even fifteen years later, she continued that vow.

"Yo, there it is!" Richie exclaimed, the legs of his chair scraping back. Miyeon startled at the sound, her brows still furrowed deep. Tina laughed, lifting a finger as they pointed at the girl. "Damn, girl," Marcus laughed. "You're scary when you're mad." She fought the urge to kick his shin. She swallowed the big bite she had taken, her face relaxing. "He startled me," she argued. "I wasn't making a face."

Carmen almost didn't tear his eyes away from the girl. He had noticed it. The small pinch between her brows, the pulling of her mouth. Anyone would mistake the face for anger. "That's so weird," Richie said, his hand falling to the back of her chair. "Why do you do that? I've never seen anyone do that."

"I don't do it on purpose." Her voice began to grow small as the attention redirected onto her. Her face flushed a hue of red that had Carmen gasping for breath. If it hadn't been for the chaos outside, he would have had to excuse himself. His head snapped back toward the window where he could see the nerds waiting for opening. They were shouted, pushing, and shoving. He felt his chest tighten with anxiety.

He took one last glance at the table, then the nerds, before looking to Richie. "Yo, shit. Cousin. Cousin." The urgency in his tone had Miyeon looking to him, worry washing over her features. "Cousin, yo, it's getting crazy out there. Come give me a hand." Richie's grip on the back of her chair tightened. He didn't spare Carmen a glance. "Nah, bro," he replied, nonchalantly. "This is on you. Yo, Tina, how about these platanos though, right?"

"Yo, really?" Carmen looked surprised. Miyeon reached for her cup, looking between the two. "Yeah, really. This isn't my house, remember?" She swallowed, cutting her eyes toward Sydney. She looked just as uncomfortable, until Tina started talking about her dish. Carmen turned with a huff, rushing out the front door. "Rich," Miyeon whispered, nudging the man's hand sitting on the table.

His eyes cut toward the woman curiously. "What's up?" he asked. She wasn't sure how to ask, or even voice her concern. She hadn't known Carmen that long. She didn't know if he could handle himself or if he couldn't, but the worry she was feeling settled in her stomach like a heavy stone. Richie's brows pulled down, disbelief washing through his irises. "No," he told her without letting her speak. "He's a big boy. He can take care of shit on his own."

She leaned onto her hand, looking over at him with a pout. He swallowed, reaching for his cup. "No," he told her again. This time, she sat up. "He would go for you, right?" she asked. Richie sucked his top lip against his teeth, setting the glass down. She had a point. With a frustrated huff, he glared playfully at her. "You owe me, sweetheart."

"Anything as long as it isn't dirty," she replied, beaming over at him. He snorted. "Yeah. 'Course not."

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍮 ⋅ ☆

          Carmen had been right. The tournament had brought in many people with open wallets, and while it had been their busiest day, Miyeon still loved every second of it. Even when Richie had pulled a gun (which, shocker, Miyeon had never actually witnessed in real life). The light of day had fully transferred into the evening sky. The lights of the restaurant seemed brighter now, battling the darkness from beyond the glass.

"Night, Mimi," came Tina's voice through the expediting window. She looked up from where she was counting the tips from the jar. Her lips stretched into a smile. "Night, Tina," she replied. The woman then disappeared. She was one of the last of the kitchen staff to leave. All that was left was Miyeon, Carmen, Manny, and Sweeps. She turned her attention back to the bills organized on the counter.

Two twenty dollar bills, six ten dollar bills, four five dollar bills, and exactly five one dollar bills. She had made one hundred and twenty dollars in tips. The door leading to the kitchen pushed open and out came Sweeps. He smiled over at the brunette. "Tired?" he asked, moving around her to the partition. She sighed, nodding her head. "My feet are killing me," she admitted.

She would kill to sit down for just a little while. Her lips fell into a pout at the thought of having to walk home. "Same," he replied. "I can't wait to get home and sleep." She nodded, slipping the bills together. Her head turned to the expediting window curiously. She hadn't heard much from Carmen since service ended. After Richie's explosion, he had been eerily quiet. He barely came out of the kitchen, barely caught her eye. A part of her was a bit worried.

"Hey, Gary. Have you seen Carmen?" she asked. He hummed in response. The stiff broom bristles scraped against the floor. "Yeah. I think he's outside," he responded. "Probably taking a smoke break." She nodded, thanking him softly. Her feet moved before having been told. The door swung around her and she navigated through the kitchen as if it was second nature.

And he had been right. Carmen's head lifted at the sound of the metal door creaking open. His back straightened upon seeing the woman slip outside. "Hey," she greeted him softly, fingers drumming against the metal. He exhaled a breath, a cloud of smoke billowing around his face. "Hey," he replied. He waved away the smoke with his hand, directing the cigarette away from her. "Everything okay?"

She withdrew her hand from the door and let it close behind her. Hands moved behind her back and she rocked on her feet. "Fine," she replied. "I got the tables clean and the chairs up. Made a hundred twenty in tips today." Her head unconsciously tilted to the side, her eyes glued on the concrete beneath her sneakers. He chuckled, bringing the cigarette back up to his lips. "At least one of us is making money," he joked.

Her face fell. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so braggy." She swallowed, a wet ball of guilt sliding into her stomach. Carmen's eyes widened slightly. "No, I know," he assured her. "It was just a joke. You're good. I'm glad you're making money."

She looked up to meet his eyes. His breath hitched in his throat. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she approached him. She turned her back to the wall and slid down, sitting next to him on the cool concrete. "You okay?" she asked, and he inwardly cringed at the question. He huffed, flicking ash from the end of his cigarette. "I'm okay," he replied. "Uh, I think I had a breakthrough with Marcus today. Might even respect me a little."

"I respect you," she blurted out, cheeks flushing under the dim light. His head turned, eyes taking in the innocent look on her face. "Okay," was all he could think to say. Looking at her like this, so close and under soft lights, made his heart race. He could smell the faint scent of her coconut perfume. He could see the creasing in her makeup, the fading of her lip tint. He could see the dishevelment in her hair, and the mascara darkening her under eyes. And, though some might find these things to be flaws, he couldn't help but think about how perfect she looked in that moment.

Her lips parted. He assumed she was going to speak. Perhaps she'd call him out on his staring, call him creepy. He felt creepy. But they instead closed, the corner tweaking up into a smile. He sighed, shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. "You still want a go at Ballbreaker?" he asked. In that moment, it was as if her eyes lit up. A childish laugh exhaled past her lips. "I almost forgot!" she exclaimed.

She was quick to her feet and Carmen envied her a bit. She stood tall, suddenly rejuvenated, and held her hand out between them. He chuckled, taking one last puff of his cigarette before flicking it away and taking her hand. She struggled a bit to help him to his feet, but he didn't mind. He was too focused on how cold her hands were, and how slender her fingers felt in his palm. "Think you can beat it?" he asked, curiously.

Her nose scrunched up. "Probably not, but I'm gonna try my hardest," she answered. She would, too. She played as hard as she could, but couldn't beat it. Carmen was pretty sure it was unbeatable, but that didn't really matter anyway. Watching her play, smile, and cheer at her victories was enough to talk him into liking the game again. He'd pay his last dollar just to see that joy again.

rumi says . . .

here we gooo. second chapter, baby !

these chapters are really pushing out
really easy ? i know its probably bc
of the hyperfixation right now with
s2 being out, but i'm gonna take
advantage of it while i got it.
you know what im saying ?

who's ur favorite interaction with so far ?
we finally got some sydney & miyeon
interaction. ((can i be honest; i want
a wlw sydney fic but dont wanna write
it bc i barely write my own books lol))

thank you for reading!
feedback is greatly appreciated!