Bistro:
AU. Naminé volunteers to work at her sick neighbor's Bistro, but never expects falling in love with his son.
Fingers ran over the tan marble counters, the nails painted a light blue. A small Bistro lay before her eyes, dark due to her not turning on the lights, and smelling like sausage and lemons. Pale blonde hair, curled at the ends, bangs swished sideways, ran into oceanic blue eyes as she gazed around. A small amount of tables, five, lay inside the Bistro where customers could sit and dine. The marble counters served as a pick up and go - beyond the counter lay utensils and supplies to prepare the food, along with an oven.
Dark green curtains lay against the windows, complementing the light brown walls very nicely. Dark green rugs, streaked with light green, and trimmed brown lay beneath the tables. Hard-wood floors surrounded the area of the floor. A tiny staircase, four stairs, led to an upper area where the fifth table was placed. Plants were organized along the perimeter of the room. Candles, lined with dark blue wraps lay on the center of each table. As she stared in awe at the Bistro, that hadn't changed much since she was of the age of six, the door opened and a silver bell chimed.
Her baby blue eyes swerved towards the door where her sick neighbor, Ventus, entered coughing up a storm, turning the lights on in the process. His eyes were lined red, and perspiration lined across his forehead and eyebrows. Ventus was the age of thirty-six, and he had started and worked hard at this Bistro - called Keyblade. He had recently turned too sick, and he didn't want to leave his Bistro in the arms of only his son, so, that's where she came in. She, Naminé, had volunteered to help him without any pay of course but he insisted. She had just recently turned eighteen, and wanted to work hard to earn some extra money in college. She had a loved for cooking, and hoped to join the culinary career, and what better chance than to practice at a Bistro?
"Oh, Naminé I cannot believe you're doing this...my son, Roxas should be here soon. The shop opens at 9:48 a.m.," The silver moon clock hanging above a window read 9 o'clock. "and I wish you good luck. It gets rather busy later in the night. Close up and lock shop around 9 o'clock p.m. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Mr. Okita. I hope you get well soon." He smiled, and waved farewell as he departed from the shop. Naminé blew a few strands of her bangs away from her eyes. She plopped down in a stool lined across the front of the counter, for customers to wait while the food was hurriedly rushed for take-out.
What was she going to do for around forty minutes? She wanted to make sure everything was swell before the time of opening. Sighing softly, she decided she could bake some fresh cookies and place them outside the Bistro, to attract perhaps little kids. She slid off the stool and grabbed a package of pre-made cookies, spreading them on a cookie sheet then on a pan, sprayed with Pam, and placing it into the oven. After what seemed like forever, the oven timer ran, the sound reverberating throughout the room, and she pulled the cookies out. Sliding the warm, soft, chocolate-chip cookies on a sturdy paper plate - she placed it outside on a light brown table and wrote on a black chalkboard that displayed the specials of the day "FREE cookies."
Stepping back inside, she turned her attention towards a young man standing behind the counter, tying a brown apron around his waist. He had gravity-defying blond hair that stuck out at odd angles, and gorgeous blue eyes, that looked to turn darker shades closer towards the pupil. She inhaled sharply as she noticed she was staring, momentarily forgot that the shop hadn't even opened, and a random (cute) guy was putting on an apron.
"Um, sir...the Bistro isn't opened yet." He fixed his gaze on her, and she shrunk back in astonishment. He didn't seem angry or even annoyed as he spoke.
"Oh! You must be Naminé. Hello, I'm Roxas, the owner's son." She gaped at him. This was Mr. Okita's son? This handsome young male?
"Hi." Smooth, Naminé. It's cool, you know, to just say hi and nothing else. Smooth.
"I figured you were an old woman, never expected you to be this young." He commented, as he messed with the coffee dispenser.
"Touché."
"Nice aim, by the way, with the cookies. I would've never thought of that." A small dusting of red burned across her cheekbones, and she nodded shyly. His soft chuckle made her blush even more and she stumbled over the rug. Sputtering as she regained balance she turned away from him to keep her breathing in check.
9:48 rolled around, and the pair opened up the Bistro. The chaotic day began, with a rushing crowd of many people either dining in or ordering out. A huge line gathered outside and Naminé found herself afraid. Why was she not informed that this Bistro was this popular? She could barely breathe with so many people inhabiting the inside of the small restaurant.
Naminé rushed from table to table, placing down orders and taking new ones as Roxas worked behind the counter to cook the orders and stack the dishes in the back. Mr. Okita had a huge room in the back for washing dishes, and Naminé was thankful. They had a lack of employees, so they'd have to do the dishes after the Bistro closed. Plates were plentiful, so they didn't have to worry about running out. At moments of small breaks, Roxas would catch Naminé's eye and he'd smile gently at her, sending weird feelings in the pit of her stomach. Oh great, on top of a chaotic job, she was crushing on the owner's son. Swell.
Time passed quickly, and Naminé found herself with Roxas in the back room where they were washing dishes. The Bistro had been closed, the money (a load) safely tucked away. Her fingers ran over the wet dishes where she vigorously washed while Roxas dryed them off and shoved them into the dishwasher. The dishes would get extra cleaning; Roxas told her when she asked why she couldn't just shove them into the dishwasher.
Water kept splashing against her light blue strapped blouse, and her light brown shorts. She frowned when Roxas laughed outright. She was itching to just toss a handful of water on him for laughing at her, and that's exactly what she did. He grinned from ear to ear, sending her heart thumping against her chest, and a battle of soap engrossed, bubble tampered, water began. When they were eventually soaked with soapy, sticky water, Naminé slid to the bottom of the tiled floor. Roxas thumped down beside her, and she fiddled with her hands nervously.
"Thank you for helping my father and I out today, it means a lot." He turned towards her, his legs sliding outwards emitting a squeak from the wet tiles.
"It's my pleasure; I've always wanted to work here."
"Why didn't you apply earlier?"
"I was afraid to approach the store, people were always surrounding it." He laughed, for the millionth time that day, and made her ears burn red with anger and embarrassment.
"Well now you aren't afraid anymore are you?"
"No. How old are you anyway? Shouldn't you be away at College?" He shrugged his shoulders, sliding his hands into his dark blue jean pockets.
"Nineteen, and yeah I should I guess, but I need some extra money to pay for dad's medical bill."
Naminé jumped to her feet, white sandals, and crossed her arms across her chest. Roxas raised a blonde eyebrow at her curiously and she nodded her head defiantly.
"You know what we are going to do? We're going to work our butts off in this Bistro. We'll gain so much money we'll have enough for your father and enough to keep this business running smoothly while he's away, and once I'm gone." Roxas tilted his head.
"What about money for you?"
"That too!"
"You're quite a character, Miss Stlane." She found herself smiling.
"So are you, Mr. Okita."
She relaxed on her light yellow bedspread, relishing on the soft comfort it provided. Her thoughts kept flittering to Roxas and how chivalrous he was as he insisted on taking her home. Her eyes roamed over the college brochure she held, listing the college she had been accepted to and the programs there. In dark blue sharpie she had circled the culinary program. Laying the brochure on her bedside table, she drifted off to sleep after listening to the sounds of her parents and someone else bickering.
Oh joy, her sister was home. It was going to be a hectic day tomorrow.
Ugh. I don't know how I feel about this.
I wanted it to turn out slightly better and longer, but I guess this'll do.
Hope you enjoyed.
I don't own Kingdom Hearts.