Chapter 2: The Art of Ordering
The fast food joint was fairly empty, but the odd group still received a couple of usual suspicious glares.
"I thought this place was supposed to be popular!" Voiced Xigbar as he shoved past Marluxia.
"Well, I guess we beat the rush. Besides, it's Tuesday." Axel replied. "And everyone else must've been too tired out to come from walking around Costco ALL FREAKIN' MORNING." He stared pointedly at Xemnas.
Xemnas was falling behind, as he was trying his very best to help Vexen, who seemed to have suddenly lost the use of his legs. He gave Axel as reproachful look as he dragged the old man along.
"We needed supplies. Costco has supplies. You can buy anything you need in mass quantities at Costco."
"Yeah!" Snapped Xigbar. "And the mass amount of massive people there almost crushed us all, en-masse! I had to stop myself from becoming a mass murderer and sending them all to hell in a raging mass of bullets!"
"Well," Marluxia interjected, smiling and flashing his perfectly white teeth, "at least we managed to burn some fat from all of that walking around!"
There was a thumping, crashing noise and Demyx, Axel, Xigbar, and Marluxia turned back in surprise.
"YES!" Screamed Vexen, who had very unexpectedly regained the feeling in his legs and kicked out suddenly, causing Xemnas to let go in shock, allowing the old man to go flying into the wall. He was lying facedown with his body draped over a table.
"BE OPTIMISTIC!" He crowed in his crackled voice. Xemnas proceeded right on past, giving up on his dream of helping hold people across restaurants.
The others followed their Superior's lead and headed around the corner, where the till lined counted seemed to wait just for them. Demyx's eyes sparkled as he gaped at the grease filled menu above the cashiers.
"Hi! Welcome to McDonalds, how may I serve you?" Demyx looked at the pimply teenage boy behind the till, then back up at the menu.
"Um...Uh..." He squinted and tilted his head, thinking hard. "I...um...um..."
"Can I take your order?" The boy asked again. Demyx jumped and started to feel the pressure.
"Uh...I...I-I'm not ready yet!!!" He said defensively, wringing his hands.
"I'll have a Big-Mac." Said Axel, cutting in front of Demyx and leaning on the counter. "But cut the mustard, I hate mustard." The boy nodded and punched in the order. Xemnas pushed his way in front of Demyx as well.
"Don't get that mixed up with my order. Make sure my honey-grilled chicken burger has mustard. I can't eat it without."
Axel look repulsed. "Mustard on chicken?! What is your problem? You maniac!"
"I'll have the Caesar salad." Said Marluxia, removing Axel from his desired space by pushing him in the forehead. "Make sure it hasn't been near anything fatty, I'm allergic to grease."
"Shove over!" Grunted Xigbar as he bumped his way in between Xemnas and Axel. "Do you got baked potatoes? Gimme five!" He commanded, slamming his hands down on the counter. "I want the ones in combo two, six, uh..four, and ---"
"Oh, and put raisins in my salad too. They're supposed to be good for the skin." Marluxia interrupted, waving his hand around like an impatient prince.
"How are raisins good for your skin?! They're almost as wrinkled as Vexen's face!" Axel commented. Marluxia sniffed.
"You don't read health magazines, obviously."
"On second though, just give me five of the same kind. Yeah." Xigbar continued as if he hadn't even been interrupted. The poor cashier was beginning to sweat as he punched in orders and requests as fast as he could. The boy nearly jumped out of his skin when Xemnas let loose a terrified yelp. Vexen was crawling between his knees with his little butt wiggling in a desperate attempt to reach the till. Xemnas jumped backwards and tripped on his own cloak, toppling onto the floor.
"...I want a fish burger." Vexen whispered, still on his hands and knees on the ground.
"Who said that?!" Cried the cashier in fright. Demyx timidly approached the counter, still not taking his eyes off the menu.
"I think I know what I want now." he said, sounding unsure.
"Oh, and cake my potatoes in sour cream and bacon bits, too." Said Xigbar. He clapped his hands together and dusted them off as if he was proud of a job well done. The cashier looked back at Demyx.
"Are you the last order?" He asked hopefully.
"Can I have a Happy Meal?" Requested Demyx politely.
"Will that be with Chicken McNuggets, or with a cheeseburger?"
Demyx went pale as his eyes darted back to the menu. Xemnas picked himself up off of the floor, glaring furiously down at Vexen, who was still crawling around on the ground. Axel clapped his Superior on the shoulder wearing his usual smug smirk.
"Smooth move." He said before walking back to the counter. Xemnas said nothing, but resisted with all his might against giving Vexen a good, hard kick.
"Hurry up, Demyx, we're hungry." Complained Marluxia in a bored voice. The pimply cashier, however, looked as if he appreciated the break.
"Oh! I know!" Cried Demyx in triumph, throwing both arms into the air energetically and causing the cashier to jump.
"I would like a plain cheeseburger!" He announced, beaming. His companions gave him a very unenthusiastic round of applause as they gathered around the counter to wait for their food. The boy behind the till slowly touched the order pad, taking a deep breath as he did. The group of villains stared at him. Cringing, he spoke quietly, sounding dreadful.
"...Would you like drinks with that?"