A/N: Just a head's up for the song in this chapter. Both Luna and Ben are going to be singing, and since I didn't want to constantly have to stay when they were switching
"This means Ben is singing"
"This means Luna is singing"
"This is them singing together"
Ben sighed as he looked in the mirror and straightened his bow tie. As much as he and his brothers complained about it, he really didn't mind the uniform for the café. It was just a black shirt with some tribal grey patterns, some brown pants, and dress shoes. There was also a bow tie, which was the only part of it he hated.
He tugged at the tie on his neck. "Uh, I can never tie this thing correctly…" he muttered irritated. Brutus suddenly nudged his side before dropping one of his toys in front of him. "I don't have time right now Brutus. We have to work. We'll play later… and remember, stay on the second floor." He knew how some people felt with animals in a restaurant. He didn't want to chance it.
The dog whined and hung his head, but obeyed. Ben walked out, patting the canine on the head as he left. "Knock off that whining. I told you we'd play later. Promise." The dog seemed to brighten up some as Ben closed the door behind him. He made his way downstairs and saw his brothers already setting up the tables.
"Hey, where's auntie?" he asked the closest brother, which was Bruno.
The eldest Brittle brother chuckled. "Trouble with your tie?" he asked amused. "You know, at some point you're going to have to learn how to tie it on your own. Auntie won't always be around to do it for you."
Ben scowled. "Look, either tie this thing for me or tell me where auntie is."
"She's in the kitchen," he said setting another plate down. "But before you see her, you have some company." He pointed towards the door and Ben saw Luna and Oliver walking in.
Beck who was standing nearby smirked. "Your girlfriends here."
Ben scowled at him. Since they had both been gone for a while yesterday his brothers had suspected something had happened between them. They were technically right, but it wasn't even close to what they were thinking. Since he couldn't tell them what really had happened they just assumed he just didn't want to talk about it.
"Say a word and I'll shank you," he threatened. Beck made a zipping motion across his mouth, but was still clearly amused by how irritated his brother was.
Luna walked up towards them and smiled. "Sup dudes. I'm ready to rock."
Oliver offered a small wave. "H-hey. I'm Oliver," he said nervously. Everyone else here clearly knew each other, so he felt a little uncomfortable. Like the odd man out.
"So you're the new drummer huh? Can't wait to see what you guys do on the stage," Bruno said patting him on the back and nearly knocking the Australian off his feet.
Ben helped him steady himself. "Really glad you showed up man. It means a lot to us. Don't worry, since you didn't have any practice with us we'll try to keep it simple. Nothing too complicated."
"It's no big deal. I'm honestly just glad to be some help mate," he said.
Bruno put a hand on their shoulders. "You guys don't worry about setting the tables. Just work on the stage and start practicing. We can handle the rest."
Beck looked at him in disbelief. "Hey! I'm gonna be up there too! How come I don't get extra practice or something?!"
"Because you're a one man show, you don't need to set up the stage, and you practice like all the time. You made Bruce cough up a Joker this morning, remember?"
Bruce grunted and shot a glare towards his younger brother who chuckled. "Oh yeah, sometimes I forget I'm so awesome I don't need to practice." He started getting back to work.
Everyone else began helping out as well. Luna looked Ben up and down. "Nice threads dude. But you're looking loose in the neck department," she said gesturing toward his tie.
He sighed. "I could never tie these things right. Hold on, I gotta see my aunt."
"Don't sweat it, I got it," she said reaching up. She began tying up his bow tie.
Ben looked slightly surprised. "Where'd you learn to tie a bow tie?"
"Used to tie them for Lincoln when he was little," she explained.
They suddenly heard three snaps and quickly looked behind them. Berta was holding up a camera. "Got it!" Berta said smiling.
"Auntie!" Ben said turning red.
Berta shrugged. "What, you think I wasn't going to take pictures during the big opening. I'm making memories for us to enjoy way down the line."
He covered his face with his hand. "Can you please just do me a favor and strangle me with this thing. It'd save me a lot of embarrassment."
"You'll be fine dude," Luna said smirking. She finished the tie and hummed. "You nervous?"
He scoffed. "You kidding? I got Royal Woods greatest guitar player and drummer with me. I think I'm covered," he said confidently.
"Alright then, let's get ready to rock!" she said getting amped up. Suddenly her eyes widened and she grabbed his shoulders. "Oh man! I just remembered, we still haven't thought up of a name yet!"
Ben's eyes widened as well. "Crap, we didn't! I was so focused on the opening I forgot to even think of any names!" he said grabbing his head.
Oliver looked back and forth between them. "Do we really need a name?" he asked. He figured the point was just to play some music for the costumers.
"Of course we need a name dude! Every real band needs a name! Otherwise we're just a bunch of wannabes playing in a no name café!" Luna said panicking.
"Ouch…" Berta said looking hurt.
"We do have a name you know…" Beck said.
"Sorry! I didn't mean it like that!" Luna said quickly. "I'm just saying we can't just go up without actually having a name. We gotta think of something dudes."
"How about… Hyper Sonic Renegades?" Ben offered.
Luna grabbed her chin in thought. "Uh… The Mega-Tone Daggers," she said.
"Screeching Wolves?"
"Power Chords?"
Oliver suddenly raised his hand. "Uh… I have a suggestion…" They both looked towards him curiously. They had almost forgotten he was here. "I mean, I've always kind of hoped of joining a band someday so I thought of a lot of names."
Ben and Luna shared a glance and then smiled towards him. "Sure Olly, go ahead and tell us what you got man," he said.
Oliver smiled.
After the doors opened the café was packed. Almost all of the costumers were kids from school, most of them girls. When Luna and Oliver saw the crowd coming in they had thought it would be too much for the brothers to handle and offered to help. But Berta assured them that it was fine, and she was right.
The six of them took orders, entertained the costumers, and delivered food without a single hint of trouble. They noted how each of the brothers were different in how they interacted with the costumers. Bruno was friendly and smiling, Bruce was silent and stoic but polite, Ben was a little nervous but courteous, Beck was cocky and flirty, and the twins were… the twins.
One thing was for sure though. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. "As promised, a plate of Samoan pancakes on me. Freshly made by yours truly," Ben said as he set the plate down. Luna, Oliver, Sam, and two of Sam's friends were sitting at one table. "Don't tell my aunt. She'll murder me."
"You are the man," Sam said before popping one of the round pastries in her mouth. The others reached forward and took some as well. Sam's face lit up as she ate hers. "Holy crap, this really does live up to the hype…" she said in disbelief.
"Dude, how are you guys not famous for these," one of Sam's friends said.
Ben rubbed the back of his head. "I-I don't think they're that good."
"They are," Olly said without hesitation.
Sam looked back up at him. "You're still single right? Cause if you can cook like this I might have to get down and propose right now," she joked.
Ben blushed and rubbed the back of his head, though he did notice Luna flinch for a moment. "I got to say, I'm flattered. But you could probably do better."
"You sure are humble man."
"Well, one of us has to be…"
Luna suddenly nudged him and pointed behind him. Ben looked back and saw his aunt nodding towards the stage. "Well, looks like it's time for us to rock. You guys ready?" Olly gulped, clearly nervous about this whole thing. Luna on the other hand looked excited.
"Let's bring the house down."
Ben made his way towards the stage as his aunt stepped up onto it. "Alright everybody, is everyone enjoying their food? Having a fun time?" she asked. The costumers all called out an affirmative answer, some of them even raising up their cups. "Good, wouldn't be a point if you weren't enjoying yourselves."
"Now here in the Le Fiafia we like to entertain while we serve you guys. So how about a little music to go with the atmosphere?" She held her hands out towards Ben, Luna, and Oliver. "Here to rock the stage and bring the house down, my nephew Ben Brittle, Luna Loud, and Oliver Osman, otherwise known as the Stained Glass Bandits!"
They clapped as the three made their way on the stage. His brothers and the Loud siblings were cheering loudly as they grabbed their instruments. Ben looked out towards everyone and felt a little nervous. He calmed himself, and then looked towards Luna and Olly who both nodded.
He took a breath. "1… 2… 3…!" The three all began playing suddenly. Ben soon began singing into the mike.
"Some... say I have no direction,
that I'm a light-speed distraction…
but that's a knee-jerk reaction."
Luna stepped forward next to him and began singing.
"Still this is the final frontier,
Everything is so clear,
To my destiny I steer."
They both smiled. Whatever nervousness either of them felt before had seemed to vanish the moment the song started. The costumers all seemed to be enjoying the show as well.
"This life in the stars is all I've ever known."
"Stars and stardust in infinite space is my only home."
Luna slid forward and began playing her guitar even faster as Ben kept singing.
"But the moment that I hit the stage,
Thousands of voices are calling my name!
And I know in my heart it's been worth it all of the while!"
"And as my albums fly off of the shelves
handing out autographed pics of myself!
This life I chose isn't easy but sure is one heck of a ride!"
Luna jumped back up next to him.
"At the moment that I hit the stage,
I hear the universe calling my name
And I know deep down in my heart I have nothing to fear!"
"And as the solar wind blows through my hair,
knowing I have so much more left to share!
A wandering spirit who's tearing its way through the cold atmosphere!"
"I'll fly high like a comet!"
"Soar like a comet!"
"Crash like a comet!"
"I'm just a comet!"
They finished playing and both Luna and Ben began trying to catch their breath. Everyone immediately started cheering and clapping for the three. They both wore wide smiles on their faces. Practicing the songs had gone smoothly before, but actually playing them on stage with everyone cheering for them was nothing short of an absolute rush.
"Whoa! That was awesome!"
"You guys rock!
"Encore!"
Ben and Luna turned and high fived each other before turning around and doing the same with Olly. Berta clapped as she stepped back up to the stage. "Wow, now that was amazing. At least I thought it was amazing. What did you guys think?"
Once again everyone in the café cheered and whistled in applause. "Well, if you want to see more of the Glass Bandits be sure to keep coming by. They'll be playing here regularly. And now we have another show for you guys. You want to see some mind blowing card tricks…?"
Ben and the others stepped off the stage as Beck began making his way up. As they walked back towards their table people complimented Luna turned towards him, still looking giddy. "I can't believe it dude! We totally brought the house down!"
"You totally did," Sam said. "Did you write it yourself?"
Luna pointed towards him. "Ben did. He's like a lyrical genius or whatever," she said putting an arm around Ben and Oliver's necks. "And Oliver came up with the name. Killer right?"
Ben and Oliver both blushed slightly at the compliment. "Benjamin, your show is over, get back to work!" his aunt called suddenly.
He sighed and turned to leave. "Well, I better get back to work…"
"It's cool dude. We'll hang after you shift is over," Luna said giving him a punch on the arm.
"Catch you later," Olly said waving.
Sam and her friends bid him goodbye as well as he made his way back towards the kitchen. He looked back and saw Luna chatting with Sam. A smile made its way across his face. He felt glad she was able to talk to her… he also felt something else. A little twinging feeling in his gut. He wasn't sure what it was… maybe he was just hungry.
Ben grumbled as he dried the dishes at the sink. He couldn't believe he'd gotten stuck with dish duty. The café was closed up, and everyone was heading home. His brothers were cleaning out front, which wouldn't take too long. But unless one of them came back to help him with the dishes he didn't know how long he could be stuck here.
"Need some help dude?"
He looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see Luna and Oliver standing nearby. "You guys are still here?" he asked. He'd seen Sam and her friends head out a while ago. He had assumed they'd go with them. It was Friday. They had the whole weekend ahead of them. Why would they stay?
Olly smiled. "Well, we were waiting for you so we could head out together, but then your aunt said you were on dish duty. So we figured we'd stay behind and help."
Ben smiled. "Thanks guys. But you don't have to do that. You don't work here or-"
"We play here, and your aunt said she's going to start paying us to play," she said as she held up a few dollar bills. "So technically we do work here. And it'd be totally bogus if we just left you with all the hard labor. We got your back bro."
They stood next to him and grabbed some towels and wash clothes. "I wash, you dry, Olly can put them away," Luna said as she began scrubbing a plate.
Ben stared at the two of them, and then smirked. "I really don't want this to come out as too sappy, but you guys are pretty awesome friends."
"Totally failed. That was sappy," Luna teased.
"We're friends? But you barely know me?" Oliver said.
"And yet you're still here helping me wash dishes. So I'm counting you as a friend."
"Wow… thanks…" Oliver sniffled slightly and wiped his nose with his thumb.
"Dude, are you crying…?" Luna asked.
"No…" Olly said scowling.
"Really? Cause you look like your crying," Ben said.
"Shut up, I'm not crying… you're crying…"
Luna and Ben both chuckled as Olly wiped his eyes. The three started getting to work. "So Olly, you seemed to break out of your shell today. You and Sam's friend were chatting it up for a while. Didn't know you were such a smooth talker."
Olly shrugged. "I guess she's nice. But I have a girlfriend."
Luna laughed teasingly. "Yeah you ladies' man, you- Wait what?!" she suddenly asked surprised. Both she and Ben looked at him in total disbelief. "Did you just say you have a girlfriend?!"
Olly nodded his head, not even seeming to register their surprise. It wasn't that they didn't think Olly could get a girlfriend, it was just… okay, maybe they didn't think he could get one. He seemed to shy and reserved. He didn't seem like he could hold a conversation in most social situation, let alone chat it up with a girl. But apparently they were both wrong.
"Yeah. She couldn't come tonight since she had some family stuff to take care off, but saw the video someone uploaded and-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ben said waving his hand. "Put a pin in that girlfriend thing because we're definitely circling back to that. But someone uploaded us?"
"I guess we were in a café full of teens. Someone was bound to record us," Luna said as she pulled out her phone. She started looking up the video and grew wide eyed when she found it. "Wow… that's a lot of views from just a few hours…"
Ben and Olly stood next to her and looked at the phone. "Whoa, that is a lot…" Ben said.
"Dude, if views keep pouring in like this we're totally gonna be famous! Or at least internet famous!" she said excitedly. "Not a bad way to start off a musical career, right?"
Ben wanted to say that they shouldn't be getting ahead of themselves. But honestly he was a little too excited right now. "I'll admit, this is pretty cool."
"You really think we could get famous or something?" Olly asked.
"Of course dude! I'm telling you, this is just the first step on the road to rock-stardom!" she said putting her arms around both their necks. "This is the start of something wicked!"
Both Jason and Olly smiled. "Yeah!" Olly said getting excited.
"Let's do it!" Ben cheered. "We can totally do this… after we do the dishes."
"Oh yeah…"
A/N: Okay! That's the end of the chapter! How did you guys enjoy it? I tried to help get the feel of the atmosphere for Le Fiafia. But there was a lot to add in and I wanted to focus the perfomance. So i'll focus on the cafe a bit more next chapter.
And what was that weird feeling in Ben's gut? Signs of jealously perhaps? We'll just have to wait and see!
Time for reviewer responses.
Guest: Yeah, I didn't just want to have every Brittle brother fall for a Loud Sister. Ben and Beck are the only ones who'll have a (relistic) shot with one of the Loud sisters. The twins crush on Leni is more for comedic effect. They will have a relationship with Lynn later, but it won't be a romantic based one.
tylerchavis97: Thank you! This is actually the first time I wrote a love triangle in any of my works, so I'm being careful not to screw it up(I usually how how they're portrayed in TV shows and movies). But I can't reveal how it'll turn out just yet. You'll just have to wait and see. And I'm working on the Nina AU as we speak! I really thought it was a cool idea. And it will be Naruto based.
A pokemon crossover could be interesting too. Feel free to leave or PM me some ideas!
lttlgreg: I will have Luna reveal it at some point, but it'll be a bit further down the line. I have a general idea of how the reaction is going to go down, but I'll hammer out the details when I get to that point.
DannyPhantom619: I watch a lot of WWE, so I can see how that would happen. I like exploring different cultures in stories, and Samoan culture has always seemed pretty cool to me, probably because of WWE, ha!