1. Chapter: Innuendo
Still in complete inner turmoil, confusion and still more than a bit embarassed, Roronoa stumbled past the indicated door and hastily pulled it shut.
Breathing heavily he leaned against the wall next to it and closed his eyes in an attempt of calming down.
What the hell was going on here?
Who?... The image of the young man from the other room returned to his inner eye.
Disturbingly calm, despite the unexpected „interruption", erotic through and through and so goddamned arrogant.
Now, with the first shock fading, anger started to rise in him. Roronoas hands balled into fists. How dare this pompous ass to just chase him away in this casual and nonchalant
fashion?
It had been him in the first place, who had in broad daylight, at such a public place...
His thoughts tripped once more when he remembered the scene he witnessed involuntarily.
Lascivious, almost obscene, but...
„So, you want it?"
The small voice, close to his ear made him flinch. He spun around and hectically scanned the semi-darkness of the corridor he stood in.
Then he spotted the woman, who leaned against the wall next to him smiling.
Instinctively he took a step away from her.
Something in the intelligent eyes that inspected him out of a fine, pale face spooked him.
The womans slim body was dressed in a short, black dress that emphasized her luscious curves. Long, dark hair framed the face wearing that peculiar smile.
A beautiful woman for sure, but still...
Roronoa felt an icy shiver run down his spine.
„Do you want it?" an odd knowing trait played around her lips.
„W-what? Who-?" Carefully the young man took another step back.
„The job, of course." The stranger laughed quietly „The part-time job. Do you want it? I guess that's why you came here?"
She inspected him once more from head to toe. He strained not to wince.
These cold eyes, that scrutiny made him feel as if it saw, understood way more than he wanted to reveal.
„Well?"
With difficulty Roronoa forced his head to nod. „The poster next to the entrance..." he began lamely.
Still smiling shrewdly the woman opened another door in the corridor.
„Please, come in. We might as well chat at a place more comfy than a basement corridor."
Invitingly she pointed inside the room.
Still wary, Roronoa slowly entered the small, homey furnished office.
The stranger stepped behind the heavy, black desk at the rear end of the room, sank into the armchair behind it and crossed her legs.
„Please be seated." She indicated the chair beyond the table.
Roronoa resigned to his fate and obeyed the request.
„So you are going to work for me." She concluded unerringly as soon as he had settled.
„The first time you have a try at a club like this?"
Without waiting for a response she continued. „Well, that doesn't really matter to me. Your work will probably for the most part consist of supporting the barkeepers and throwing out drunk customers. Not much experience needed and the other employees are more than able to explain about what you need to know.
You think you can do that?"
Speechless the young man nodded.
„Fine. Your shift is five days a week from 7PM until 2AM, 1500Yen hourly wage. Any objections?"
Her unsettling smile and an almost unnoticeable undertone in her soft voice was a convincing deterrent from having any objections.
The determined business-orientation of this woman made Roronoa a little queasy.
He shook his head.
Der junge Mann nickte stumm.
„None? Good."
Again she looked at him with an intensity that made him flinch inside.
„You've got a well trained body." She stated in a detached manner „What kind of sports do you do?"
Somewhat flustered by the strange question he looked at her.
„At school I attended the kendo-club. Since then I mostly run and do some weight lifting." he answered.
He was tempted to ask why this might matter, but her expression discouraged him.
„Probably a lot of heavy work afterwards I guess?" He nodded.
Cool eyes glided over his face, caught his gaze for one nerve-wrecking moment to pass on afterwards.
Suddenly, completely unexpectedly: „You don't have a girlfriend, do you?"
Roronoa winced and felt his cheeks flush.
Gradually he seriously started to regret having ever come down the steps to this club.
What was it with the people here?
A fine, amused chuckle made him listen up.
„So you don't. That's a relieve!"
Any reply caught in Roronoas throat, considering this dry assessment.
The woman smiled at him. „Believe me, I had so much hassle with jealous ninnys, just because I hired their boyfriends and they had to work together with the girls at a club like this. I didn't intend to embarass you. I hope you understand."
The young man nodded, not really sure if he understood anything anymore.
„Good. Would be it be okay for you to start tomorrow already?
He nodded again.
Elegantly the stranger rose from her seat, came around the table and placed one of her slim hands on his shoulder.
Well then. Welcome to the 'Dix Fleurs'. I'm Madam Robin, but morst people around here just call me 'Madam'. What's your name by the way?
„Roronoa."
„Roronoa?" Unusual name." She went past him and indicated to follow her.
„For today I'm going to introduce you to our head-barkeeper, Sanji.
As long as you work here you are working directly under him, so he's the one you should meet first.
She stepped out into the corridor and turned casually. „At first glance he might seem quite... peculiar in ways, but in his trait he is the best there is. Also he's a great guy if you get to know him. I think you had a short encounter earlier."
Jauntily she opened the door to the club.
Roronoa stood mesmerized .'A short encounter' didn't really...?
When he stepped into the room after her he almost sighed in relieve. The counter was deserted, the club was quiet and no trace of...
„Sanji-kun!"
The womans voice was calm with an almost inaudible hint of sharpness.
„Sanji-kun!"
There was an indifinable noise from one of the booths at the rooms rear end.
„It's not like I have to remind you of you owning an apartement of your own.
Do me the favor and come here for a minute."
Silence. Then the characteristic rustling of fabric, the click of a lighter.
Slightly tousled hair, a smouldering cigarette in the corner of his mouth, the blonde Roronoa had seen before appeared out of the booth.
He was wearing nothing but black trousers and a white shirt he hadn't even bothered to button down.
„I ask for forgiveness Robin-sama. Were we too loud?"
With one hand he tried to return the strands of his hair to some kind of order. Then his eye fell on Roronoa. He let his hand sink back down and the eye visible under the mane of blonde hair narrowed.
Madam Robin gave him a smile that made a slap in the face pale in comparison.
„No you weren't. But because you, my dear, are in charge of this etablissement it's in your best interest as well, not to bring in unnecessary infamous.
But that's secondary now. I found you a new helper."
Her hand pointed to the young man behind herself who stared at the blonde as if paralyzed.
„Roronoa-kun, this lightly dressed lad is Sanji. He will introduce you to everything you need to know here."
She half turned and considered the barkeepers dark expression with a punitive look.
„Sanji-kun, this is Roronoa. I trust you to work with him amiably. I think we are agreed on the fact that the rapid fluctuation of employees has to stop in the future, aren't we?"
Roronoa swallowed hard and wondered how to interpret this remark. The undisguised threat behind the friendly words had not eluded him.
He almost felt something like pity for the scolded, until Sanji gave him a smirk that was so presumptuous it made him want to punch it out of the pretty face.
„Yes, Madam." Sanji finally replied soothingly. „I will do whatever I can."
The woman raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on this nebulous answer.
Surly she pointed to the bar.
„I trust you take care of having everything nice, clean and deserted at opening time.
With a sideways glance at Roronoas uncomprehending face she softly touched his arm.
„Come, I'll walk you to the door."
Then she walked past the blonde towards the entranceway.
When Roronoa followed her he took one last, stealthy look at Sanji, who now strolled towards the counter and grabbed a cloth lying behind it.
For one glimpse of a moment their eyes met.
Hate, Fear, Disgust, Excitement.
The slighting expression in Sanjis eyes triggered an unknown chaos inside of him.
Hastily he followed after Madam Robin. Up the stairs, out of this club, just out.
Away from this... guy.
A vage foreboding rose within him. What exactly would happen, he didn't know.
But THAT he just started head on, into matters that would make more things happen than he wanted, dawned to him now with dark certainty
To be continued...