Thanks for all the support and the reviews they were helpful and filled with support. Problem is we are at an impasse some want a harem others want a single pairing thing is I suck at decisions so I will be creating a poll to decide. I already have another person in mind if the harem road is taken and they will be introduced this chapter so here you go.
Love and Advice
Issei Hyoudou the bartender of Panic room rose from the realm of Morpheus due to the rather loud ringing of his alarm. It's six o'clock 2 hours before his shift, he sighed as he managed to drag his body up before swiping his legs out to lean over the bed and rest against the floor. He slammed the top of his alarm stopping the continuous ringing, his brown eyes trailed over to a photo by his bed before he sighed and bite his lower lip, his hand reached out a small amount of shaking visible before he placed the photo face down.
'Not a day goes by…' he mentally sighed before glancing at his left arm
A tattoo of several chains wrapping around a small lizard. He gently patted his left arm a powerful heat emanating from the tattoo but he was used to it and therefore was never bothered by the heat he always hid it under his shirts though.
'I'm sorry friend but I left that life behind….' He mentally apologized as he shut his eyes
A few more moments of silent regret passed before he rose from the bed, he went to the bathroom of his one-bedroom apartment and began getting ready brushing his hair and teeth. As he continued the mundane task someone else occupied his though the weird magic girl Serafall, she was rather jolly and if he was younger he knew he would be drooling all over her but he had grown up and had to maintain some semblance of professionalism. He did admit the girl was quite attractive although he wasn't sure what to think of her she was a bit weird not to mention her age, he didn't believe she was above 18 until she actually gave him an ID card which proved otherwise although he did find it amusing that she was actually posing as a magic girl in her ID card.
He created the "magic girl special" for her while he didn't admit to it having alcohol he did put a small amount to round out the flavour despite Serafall being small she drank a lot of the special 36 to be exact and by that point she should have been at least a bit tipsy but if anything she got more hyper. By time his shift ended and the bar closed they had become fast friends with Serafall promising to visit him again as she left kissing him on the cheek. He almost blushed but shook his head of that memory before he continued his ritual to prepare for his shift
As Issei Hyoudou the bartender got ready Serafall Leviathan a cosplaying magic girl Satan was meeting with her favourite redhead Satan after a tiring day of long boring meetings for the magic girl.
"Sirzechs-chan!" she cheered joyfully as she walked into Sirzechs office who was sat behind his desk doing some paperwork while Grayfia stood behind him. A wide smile graced Sirzechs as he turned to Grayfia who rolled her eyes.
"I believe that is enough work for now, you can take a break" Grayfia relented allowing Sirzechs to spring from his chair in delight
"Sera-chan how are you?" He greeted her as she skipped up to his desk
"Amazing how about you did you find a solution for Rias yet?" Serafall cheery demeanour almost switched as small frown graced her lips while Sirzechs expression became netural
"Unfortunately no" Sirzechs sighed
"I am sorry Sirzechs-kun if I could I would blow away that Raiser away with a spell!" She stomped before waving her wand in frustration
"Is there nothing I can do? I know I offered before but you are getting more desperate Zechy…." She admitted as she glanced at the other Satan gripping her wand between her hands as she bit her lower lip
"No Serafall this is something I must do on my own…. I couldn't prevent Rias getting into this situation but now I have to get her out." Sirzechs spoke with determination, Serafall nodded understanding why Sirzechs didn't want to accept her help but she couldn't forgive him for not accepting her help, he was getting desperate he tried to hide it but she wasn't his friend for nothing and she could see it in his eyes.
"If you ever want to relax I went to this place yesterday called the Panic Room and the bartender-kun there made a magic girl special for me, It was amazing!" she spoke with excitement as a warm feeling filled her body at the memory as she looked up at Sirzechs with stars in her eyes. Sirzechs expression turned from neutral to a smile quickly,
"Oh? What's the name of this place?" he asked with curiosity as he had rarely seen Serafall this excited (despite her being excited most of the time)
"It's called the "Panic Room" the bartender there his name was Issei Hyoudou." She elaborated
"Hmmm, Issei Hyoudou?" Sirzechs mused
"You wouldn't happen to have searched his personal details would you Serafall-chan?" Sirzechs teased as his smile turned into a teasing one the magic girl Satan froze at the teasing before snapping her head to the side
"I didn't need to, all I needed was to cast a spell and he told me everything there was" she said crossing her arms under her bust while Sirzechs just smirked
"Oh in that case what did you learn?" he spoke with curiosity
"Issei Hyoudou 23 years old worked at the Panic Room for the last year. He was born in Kuoh but went abroad for university but he dropped out and came back to Kuoh where he now works as a Bartender." She recited casually, she couldn't help but look up the bartender's personal details he interested her but he was too professional with her not spilling much about his personal life. Although the look of relief on his face when she showed him his ID card that proved she was above 18 was priceless it was as if he dodged a bullet.
"Maybe we should drop by sometime" Sirzechs mused as he tapped his chin
"Let's go right now!" Serafall cheered with excitement as she grabbed Sirzechs arm ready to bolt through the door were it not for a silver haired maid to appear
"Sorry to be disturbing you but the elders wish to meet the Satans" Grayfia spoke formally, both Serafall and Sirzechs shoulders dropped in annoyance and disappointment
"Right now?" Serafall moaned in annoyance
"Yes" she replied
"Magic girl Levi is annoyed" Serafall pouted as she crossed her arms
"The quicker we get through this meeting the quicker we can visit you're bartender" Sirzechs pointed out, Serafall pouted a bit more before sighing and her shoulders droop
"Fine…. Let's go" Serafall sighed before walking forward dragging her feet in annoyance
"Let the record show that magic girl Serafall wanted to go to the bar first" Serafall stated as she held her magic wand out as she began marching behind the door while Sirzechs chuckled as he and Grayfia followed the annoyed magic girl.
Issei Hyoudou was calmly cleaning a glass as he glanced around the bar. Week days were slow and this left too much time for the bartender to contemplate something he'd rather not do. His mind was always drawn to memories of her.
His fingers tightening around the glass but he came to his senses and managed to avoid a hazardous situation. Sighing he turned around and put the glass back on the shelf before picking up another. He heard the faint noises of small heels clicking against the floor of the bar.
He turned around to come face to face with another beauty, a woman with long silky raven hair and alluring violet eyes but his gut told him there was something more than alluring. She was dressed in jeans, a black blouse that hid the sexy form beneath but it still gave a good look of her cleavage and a black leather jacket, her skin was flawless with a healthy complexion.
She took a seat on the stool in front of him, he turned around putting down the glass he was polishing her arms resting on the bar as she tilts her head up to match their eyes. Issei lips curved into a friendly smile as he spoke with phrase he has honed for the past year of bartending
"Good evening what can I get you tonight?"
"I would love a good cocktail" she replied casually, her voice soft and feminine, he immediately came to the conclusion she had been in bars before.
"Anything in particular?" he asked
"Hmm do you have anything with tequila in it?" she hummed
"Yeah I do one Tequila sunrise coming up" he replied before turning around to promptly mix her drink
"Pardon me for asking but where are you from? You are definitely not from around here, if I had to hazard a guess I would say you are European judging from your accent" he made conversation as he mixed her drink his voice normal and innocent as possible. People didn't want to come to a bar where they would be aggressively questioned they wanted a calm atmosphere and if the situation called for someone with an ear to lend in this situation he felt that wasn't out of the question.
"Yeah I am not from around here and I am European was my accent that noticeable?" she replied back unperturbed by the question
"No you're Japanese is pretty good, I lived in Europe for 2 years for university so I can tell easily" he replied casually giving up information about his life, by giving up the information it made him more approachable and begins to build a sense of trust that will lead to the person being more comfortable around him.
"Interesting, in that case where do you think I am from Europe?" she questioned interested with what his response would be
"I would have to guess Italian" he answered as he turned around and placed her drink in front of her, the tequila sunrise was a mixture of orange and red.
"Hmm got it in one" she hummed in surprise before taking a sip with the straw, the drink fruity but the under taste of tequila present.
"I got lucky, Issei Hyoudou your bartender" he introduced himself with a smile as he stuck his hand out, she offered a friendly enough smile before shaking his hand.
"Raynare Vincenzo" she introduced another customer came up to the bar and called for Issei
"If you need anything just call me over" he informed her to which she nodded before he went over to attend to the new customer both exchanging friendly smiles as they departed.
Issei spent the next thirty minutes attending to other patrons however he could not help but glance from time to time over at Raynare who seemed to be contemplating as she occasionally took sips from her drink. He could tell that she needed to get advice or something off her mind and this is where bartenders fulfil the role of part therapist and advice givers.
He calmly walked over to Raynare before leaning back giving a relax open pose to make her feel at ease, he offered a gentle smile.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he spoke as calm and comfortable as possible trying to set a comfortable and amiable tone. She glanced up at him a flicker of doubt and thoughts racing through her violet eyes before a sigh escaped her lips before she glanced down at the bar.
"Is it that noticeable?" she said with what appeared to be a forced laugh, Issei lips creased into a frown
"No, I just have seen this kind of thing before." He replied calmly and honestly
"It's nothing to be ashamed of its normal to have something on your mind or bugging you, the thing is how do you tackle it" he pointed out she glanced up at him she could see the hesitation in her eyes before a sigh escaped her lips
"I love someone at work but he is a lot higher up then me and he gives me jobs to do and I take them hoping he would notice me but I feel like he never does. I am in Japan on a job he asked me to do…" she began spilling as if the gates to a damn had opened but Issei didn't say anything instead he leaned down to be eye level with her as he listened
"I do job after job hoping he would realize, take the hint… I have asked him for dinner but he is usually too busy to go out for dinners. Its irritating but I can't bring myself to hate him" her hands clasped together and tighten around each other but he didn't say anything just continuing to listen
"I want to tell him but I fear losing what we already have and that he might not take me seriously… I want something more but I think it's out of reach and I don't know what to do…" she finished as she bit her lower lip before glancing up to see his reaction all she received was a nod of affirmation that he understood her story while his face had a neutral expression set in stone.
"I see, what do you have to lose by telling him?" he spoke with his hand resting on his chin, she glanced up at surprise and she replied
"It would jeopardize my relationship with him, make things awkward with him"
"Aren't they already?" he told her honestly, she bit her lip as she took a moment to think before Issei continued pressing his advantage
"I can relate; I use to have a crush on my childhood friend. We were close, very close… I developed feelings for her and I was too scared to admit them cause like you I feared what we had" he began telling his story, by telling his own experiences he would further the sense of trust and make her more comfortable around him
"But then I thought what do I have to lose, we were such close friends that I felt our bond would be unbreakable even if I admitted how I truly felt." He left a pause
"What happened then?" she asked with a hint of curiosity, a slightly forced smile creased his lips but she didn't pick up on it
"We both liked each other and she just like me had the same fear of ruining everything we had and therefore was too scared to admit her feelings. We were both relieved and happier that we admitted our feelings. I never found out if our friendship would suffer because we never broke up" he finished
"Wow, so you two are still dating until now?" she spoke in surprise and a hint of jealousy
"No…" he clinched his fist, his nails digging into his palm and a steel glint traced his eyes, she waited with baited breath she was about to speak but he cut her off
"She died" he could see Raynare visibly flinch before she reached across in a surprisingly gentle but hesitant gesture
"I am sorry" she spoke rather sincerely
"It's, alright I have come to terms with it. Anyway you came to me for advice, my advice would be try it what do you have to lose? If anything he will be losing out will he not?" his tone cheerful and earnest, her eyes once again flickered before her hand retracted and she bowed her head before glancing up a smile on her face.
"T-Thank you Issei, your words were helpful" she thanked but then a phone call cut through their conversation to which Raynare answered.
"Hello?" she began talking but Issei could not hear the other side of the phone
"Alright I am on my way" she spoke before she closed the phone and offered a smile
"Once again thank you for the words, I have to finish my job" she spoke with a hint of disappointment
"It's alright, want a drink to go?" he offered with a smile
"Sure" she replied as he whipped up one more Tequila sunrise before they exchanged goodbyes and Raynare paid and left with a smile.
As she left he turned around turning away from the view of the patrons as his hands dig into the shelf of the drinks, he grits his teeth as anger was flowing through him the memories of his failures assailing his mind before he took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself.
"Issei-chan?" a rather familiar cheerful voice called out, his eyes widened before he put on his bartender smile as he turned around
"Serafall welcome back"
Well there we go chapter done, a lot of inferences can be made from this chapter and I wanted you guys to only be given hints cause where is the fun if I gave you everything?
Anyway the poll will be up by the time this story has been updated so don't forget to vote and please review your thoughts and tell me what you think until next time!