Tig and Happy came back the next night and the night after that and so on every day the bar was open for two weeks before I had to put my foot down. The crowd that usually occupied the bar from five till close would vanish when they pulled up out front and the bar would be quiet till the next day. After the first week it became obvious that the bikers were making this a nightly thing and the regular crowd began to shrink drastically and it was cutting hard into my profits to have them hanging around nightly. I knew they weren't going to be happy with what I had in mind, but it needed to be done before the damage became permanent and put me out of business.
I poured the two bikers another round at midnight before cutting them off and printing the checks. Tig thought I didn't notice, but I saw him slipping Ace french fries when he thought I wasn't looking, but it was pretty obvious given how Ace practically sat on Tig's foot and drooled the whole time he was there. Plus the crumbs and drool left on the floor was a dead give away even if I hadn't seen Tig feeding him. I didn't mind Tig slipping Ace fries as long as he only gave him a few, but that was something else that would probably have to stop. I put the checks in front of them before leaning on the bar.
"Hey, we need to talk." I said bringing Tig and Happy's attention to me. I tried to keep my face neutral, but Happy seemed to know I wanted something from the way his eyes narrowed.
"What is it?" Tig asked when he looked up while Happy raised an eyebrow.
"Something needs to give. I appreciate that you guys seem to like coming here and that's great, but you're scaring away my customers. I know it amuses you guys that everyone practically runs away when you walk in, but if this goes on too much longer, I'm not going have any customers left and I'll have to put up the closed sign permanently." Happy shifted in his seat and gave me a hard look.
"You telling us not to come back?" He asked lowly.
"Not at all. All I'm asking is that you start parking your bikes out back when you're here in an unofficial capacity and that the leather come off at the door." The glare was still there, but it wasn't as harsh as it had been.
"The bikes are easy enough, but the kuttes are a deal breaker." Tig said as he went back to patting Ace's head.
"This kutte comes off when I die." Happy added lowly.
"Then consider this place heaven." I said glaring back, I wasn't going to back down from this, it was my livelihood at stake here and they needed to understand that.
"I've put my heart and soul into this bar and I'm not going to let myself go out of business because of two bikers."
"What makes you think that taking the kuttes off will stop scaring off your customers? People still know we're with the club. What difference would it make?" Tig asked, serious for the first time since he'd set eyes on Ace that first night.
"The kutte says your here on business. It declares who you are and why you're here. If you're in here without a kutte people don't think bullets will start flying at any second and it will definitely take them a moment to realize who you are without the kutte. That's the difference and hopefully they'll already have a drink in their hand by the time they recognize you. I think it's pretty reasonable. No bikes out front brings people in and no kuttes inside lets people stay and that means the bar stays open. I'll even make an exception about the kuttes when you guys come in with the club for negotiations." Tig looked to Happy who didn't look like he was budging.
"What if we say no?" Tig asked cautiously. I shrugged, knowing I could live with my back up plan if they decided they weren't going to play by my rules.
"I guess you're gonna miss Ace and I." I gave him a smile knowing I'd hit him where it hurts. He loved Ace, Ace was the whole reason he started coming back. I knew if they decided not to come back that Ace would miss Tig, but he'd get over it eventually.
"In all honesty I don't even need to make the concession for negotiations. Using the bar as neutral ground was a deal worked out with my uncle when The Cross-Eyed Cricket was just a bar and struggling to get by, but now its a bar and grill and we're doing just fine without the need for the club to be waving money around. The only reason I don't stop it now is the respect my uncle had for the club and that it doesn't happen often. I was only losing half a night's profit then, but with you two coming in nightly, I've lost roughly a week's profits just from the two of you sitting at the bar for an hour or two." Tig looked back to Happy who didn't look as pissed, but still wasn't appeased.
"I'll even throw in one free drink a night. Final offer." I said as I picked up their empty glasses.
"Sold!" Tig said smacking his hand on the bar top and making Ace jump. I smiled at him before turning to Happy.
"I guess I can live with that." Happy grumbled. He still wasn't pleased, but at least he was no longer glaring.
"That's good, you two are some of my best customers." I said with a bright smile as I left them at the bar and put the glasses in the bin to be cleaned. When I came back Tig was talking to Happy while absently petting Ace's head that was laying in his lap. Ace looked half asleep, his eyes drooping as I washed down the bar in front of Happy and Tig. I happened to notice that one of Tig's patches was peeling away from the leather.
"Hey, Tig you might want to fix that." Tig looked at me as I pointed to the white patch with 'Original' stitched on it. Tig looked down and fiddled with the patch for a second before leaving it be.
"Thanks, doll. I'll fix it later." I nodded and finished the bar before coming back to them and leaning against the counter.
"So I've been wondering. Where's Redwood Original?" I propped my head on my hand as I gave Tig my full attention for the moment.
"The Redwood charter is in Charming, California." Tig said and I tilted my head. I'd never heard of the town and wasn't sure what Redwood had to do with a specific town in California.
"Then why does the patch say Redwood Original instead of Charming like Happy's says Tacoma?" I gestured to Happy's kutte for emphasis. Tig shrugged as he returned to petting Ace's head when he whined.
"The Redwood Originals was the charter that started it all, I just assume they started naming the charters differently after that. Easier to just name a charter after where it's located then to come up with different names and try to keep track I guess." Tig tried to explain and I hummed, accepting the answer. I started to straighten up when Tig spoke up.
"You know, doll. You're a weird chick." He stated and I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to be offended or take that as a compliment.
"Anything that has to do with the club, you're hot and cold. Can never place what your true feelings for it are." Tig explained and I decided to take his previous statement as a compliment.
"You mean the fact that I don't throw myself at your feet like the women who's only desire is to be some biker's arm candy?" I tried to clarify with a slight glare and Tig quickly shook his head.
"No, no, no. The fact that one second you're asking us to leave our kuttes at the door and the next your making sure I take care of mine and asking about the patches. Sometimes you act like a friend of the club's and others you write it off completely. I'm just confused." Tig says and I pondered it for a second before answering.
"I was born and raised here in Tacoma. I remember the club moving in, then I remember everyone being scared of the men in the club, then I remember the way some of the women around the club changed. I learned quick that when it comes to the club ignorance can be bliss. I'm not stupid, I know what the club's involved in, I've seen it in the paper what happens to those who know too much. I know the more I know, the more danger I put myself in." I said looking directly into Tig's eyes, I wanted him to understand as this was something that must have been bugging him.
"That's why I'm 'hot and cold' as you put it. I ask you to leave the kutte at the door because of the danger that comes with it, but when I noticed the patch coming off I brought it to your attention because the club and that kutte are obviously something you care a lot about, so I do that out of respect to you. I ask questions when something peeks my interest, but also when I know it's not going to land me in hot water. Asking about that patch and the name was the same as asking where you're from and the history of the place, nothing that would get me shot. I act as a friend to the club out of respect for the danger it represents, but at other times write it off because when the cards are on the table I mean nothing to the club, no Son is going to put his life on the line to protect me or mine." I straightened up and looked hard at the two as they stared at me.
"Understand?" I asked, not wanting to leave anything unanswered. Both nodded and I'd swear I saw respect in their eyes, at least that's what I hope it is.
"I can understand that." Tig finally said softly with a nod of his head before he looked to Happy, who gave a small nod as well.
"Smart girl." Happy said and stood up from his stool as he placed the money for his check on the counter. Tig stood up, too, but lingered for a second to do the same before hurrying to follow Happy out.
"See you later, doll." He called with a wave and I nodded as he disappeared through the door and into the night. I watched as the two left, listening to the roar of the bikes before stepping out from behind the bar to lock up and close down. I was glad that our talk had gone far smoother than I had been expecting. I knew they weren't going to be thrilled with the terms and had honestly expected them to flat out refuse to compromise. I was prepared that tonight might be the last time I saw them sitting at the bar, but hoped that wouldn't be the case.