Chapter Text
Slower days in Bistro Huddy were cherished by everyone, even Terry. You’d think the manager of the establishment would be bummed about the lack of customers (and therefore profit) during certain days and times, but not in this case. More customers meant more money but also meant more conflicts, more trips to different tables that called for the manager, and even more stress. When it was slow, Terry could relax, finish paperwork, and check on his workers (as well as the score of sports games played on the bar TV). And this was one of those days.
Joey also could loosen up a little and allow himself a few more trips to the host stand. Unfortunately leaving his workers unsupervised sometimes meant a dish would get screwed up during his absence.
“Ah, fudgesickles!” Pickles exclaimed as he looked at the ticket then back at the dessert he was about to finish. “It wasn’t supposed to have the white chocolate.” His bottom lip curled in disappointment.
“Can’t you scrub it off, man?” Nico suggested, looking over at the cake balls.
“No,” Pickles answered with a good amount of Skittles already in his mouth. “I gotta start over...” He sounded defeated.
“Here, what if I try-” Nico was ready to somehow get rid of the white chocolate and just as his spatula got near the plate, Ruby stepped in.
“What are you guys doing?”
“I ruined the dessert.” Pickles looked at her with the sad eyes of a puppy.
“It’s fine, start another batch. Nico, don’t you dare touch that with your nasty spatula,” she commanded, taking the plate into her hands and away from her co-worker before he got any new bright ideas.
“You’re going to get Joey?” Pickles asked.
“What? No. He can live at the host stand for all I care. I’ll be back.” And she left the kitchen to find her favorite server- so, the one she tolerated the most.
“Hey, Bridgette.” She managed to catch the redhead quite quickly, as she was in the staff area texting on her phone. As soon as she heard Ruby call her, she quickly hid her phone in her back pocket, as if she wasn’t allowed to use it at work. Well, that was kind of true, but it was a slow day, no one cared as long as her section was happy and cared for. And when wasn’t Bridgette’s section happy and cared for?
“Hi.” She sent her a kind and a little nervous smile like she was hiding something.
“The order got screwed up and we have a free dessert. Here.” Ruby handed her the plate.
“Are you sure?” Bridgette hesitated. “I mean, thank you, that’s really kind. I’m just not sure if-”
“Don’t worry, Joey won’t be mad. He’s not even in the kitchen,” Ruby scoffed. “Besides he gives out free food all the time. Thought I’d give it to you for a change.”
“Wow, seriously thank you.” Her smile grew bigger as she examined the plate. “Can I do something for you in return or…?”
“Just enjoy the dessert.” Ruby sighed softly and walked off back into the kitchen. She immediately locked eyes with Joey, who magically came back when she was absent.
“I heard we had screwed-up cake balls,” he started, eyeing her suspiciously. Of course, now he will feel threatened.
“We did,” she answered and walked back to her station, ignoring her boss’ glares.
“Is it opposite day or somethin’?” Joey asked, looking around at the rest of his staff. Pickles shook his head distinctively and Nico just avoided eye-contact. “We’re switching jobs now?!” All of those were rhetorical questions paired up with a passive-aggressive tone. “Well, are we?!”
“No.” Ruby answered, since she knew Joey would just rile himself up more until someone answered. It’s better to start the fight when smoke isn’t coming out of his ears yet.
“Then why didn’t you consult me on giving out a free dessert?”
“Because you weren’t here.”
“Would it kill you to take 5 fuckin’ steps?”
“I shouldn’t be taking any steps in the first place.” Ruby narrowed her eyes, ironically taking a few steps towards Joey. “You’d be in control, if you were actually at your station.” Shots were fired.
“This whole restaurant is my fuckin’ station! I can be where-ever I fuckin’ want!” He began angrily waving his hands around.
“Okay, but don’t expect me to follow you to the hostess stand to give away one fucking dessert!”
“Well, you should! I’m your boss and I get the last word on these matters!”
“Seriously?” Ruby scoffed.
“Abso-fuckin-lutely.” Joey stood his ground. The redhead just rolled her eyes and walked off to cook some food. She has had enough of his attitude. “Now, who did you give out the dessert to anyway?” he asked a little calmer.
“Bridgette.” Pickles answered shyly.
“Oh,” now he sounded a bit embarrassed. “Well, she deserves a free dessert.” Joey admitted. The kitchen was oddly quiet for the rest of the day. Ruby barely spoke and just worked at her station, as she would usually do, but that day her movements seemed angrier to the other cooks. Joey weirdly took up the same strategy, bottling up this anger and embarrassment that was still lingering somewhere inside of him. Very out of character for him. The silence in the kitchen was also VERY out of character for Bistro Huddy. Terry walked in a few times, worried that Joey passed away or that they were being held at gun point. Any bizarre scenario seemed more plausible than the kitchen going on silent mode just because.
This, of course, ricocheted onto Brigette, who thought it was all because if her. She should have never taken that dessert; it was clearly not meant for her and now everyone is fighting. She tried to take Nicole’s advice and, quote “not give a flying fuck”, but she did in fact, give a f-… darn. She gave a gosh darn darn if her actions affected someone. She just wouldn’t confront anyone about it and silently shed a few tears in the walk-in.
The first person to find her there was Ruby. The tattooed redhead just went in to get some ingredients but instead found Bridgette sobbing in the corner.
Ruby looked at her, at first with a blank expression, that shifted into confusion and then to concern. Her eyes hardened and her eyebrows got pulled down by her anger.
“What did he say?” she asked. He, as in Joey. She immediately thought that the chef went to Bridgette to also give her a piece of his mind. He may adore Bridgette and all the sweets she brings into the workplace, but that softness might as well have passed.
“No one said anything!” Bridgette sprung up, wiping away the last of her tears. “There was this customer and -”
“Don’t lie.” Ruby sighed. Not to me, she thought.
“It’s all my fault,” Brigette admitted, defeated.
“What? That Joey’s an asshole sometimes?”
“That it’s dead quiet in the kitchen.”
“It’s between me and Joey, Bridgette. You did nothing wrong and to assume otherwise is just stupid.”
“I just thought that it was because I took that dessert and -”
“And who gave you that dessert?” Ruby cut her off, stopping the redhead from spiraling more. Bridgette didn’t answer immediately, instead she anxiously fiddled with the corner of her apron.
“You did,” she half- whispered. “But! -”
“There is no but. I can’t help the fact that Joey felt threatened by one free dessert that didn’t go to his work girlfriend.”
“Amber isn’t his-“
“I don’t care.” Ruby snapped irrationally. “Sorry.” She regretted it as soon as she saw Bridgette’s hurt expression. “Just don’t worry about it that much. Joey actually felt bad that he yelled so much after hearing you got the dessert.”
“Really?” Her eyes glimmered with a little hope.
“Yes, he adores you. Everyone does. Now please don’t cry.”
“Okay okay.” Brigette wiped away her tears. “Thank you Ruby and I’m -”
“No, you’re not sorry for anything, because you have nothing to apologize for, got it?” She cut her off, and as the curly redhead dropped her gaze to the ground from embarrassment, Ruby gently raised her chin up so their eyes could meet. She reassuringly nodded and wiped what was left of the tear ready to fall down Bridgette’s cheek. As a response she got a slight blush creeping onto the girl’s cheek and a shy mumble thanking her and saying some excuse about serving tables. Was it bad that Ruby felt a little satisfied about the blush? It’s nice to know she’s still got it.