//------------------------------// // 14: The Job // Story: The Princess and I // by Flanagan //------------------------------// I woke up earlier than usual, around 03:00 in the morning. My mind was still trying to warp around the fact that Luna had set me up on a date with Jamie and that she misunderstood her question about sleeping with me. The kinks in my back were probably the main reason I woke up, that damn couch really needed to be thrown out, but still, Luna. Why did she do that? Why would Jamie ask such a personal question to a person she barely knew? Those questions would have to wait, I needed to run. To clear my head a bit, anything to get myself back into focus. Because today wasn’t just any normal run-of-the-mill day, today was the day. I crept into my room, hoping that Luna wasn’t awake. Fortunately, she was still out cold. I was starting to wonder about her, she was supposed to be the Princess of the night and she was sleeping, at night. However, I needed to get some fresh air so I went to my dresser, pulled out my running pants and proceeded to put them on, unfortunately for me my balance hadn’t been the best since I left the Marines and Luna’s ‘remodeling’ of my bedroom was working against me. I tripped over a chair and fell face first into my bed, causing Luna to jump what I swear was ten feet into the air. “BY MY SISTER’S BEARD!” she cried, grabbing the bed lamp as if it were instinct. “Easy Luna… it’s just me,” I replied, throwing my hand in front of my face. “I was trying to get ready to run.” “Aedan… You scared me half to death,” she said putting the lamp down. “Why would you do something like that?” “I wasn’t trying to… but it’s hard to see in the dark, not to mention that you’ve adjusted everything in here.” “Oh… I’m sorry about that Aedan… I was only trying to make this place feel more like home.” “I understand that, but you should go back to sleep. You know what day it is right?” “The day you bring me to your place of business,” Luna answered. “To see if I can’t get a job.” “Exactly,” I replied smiling. “Now get some sleep, I’m sure you woke the neighbors.” Sure enough when I stepped outside I received a great deal of negative remarks, but the funniest one was probably the guy that told me to be more gentle with whoever I had in my apartment. If that guy only knew the half of it, I got done with my run relatively quick it was 04:30 by the time I got back to the apartment. When I opened the door the smell of smoke filled my nose, Luna had tried to use the toaster, but she put whatever was trying to cook was now nothing more than a black shriveled version of what it once was. “I’m SO sorry Aedan!” Luna cried, desperately trying to grab whatever was inside. “I was going to surprise you with breakfast, but-“ “It’s fine Luna…” I replied walking to the smoldering toaster. That could be another reason this place was so cheap, I was one of the rooms that didn’t have a smoke detector. “What were you trying to make?” “Waffles…” Luna answered, I should’ve known. “That’s very nice of you Luna, but I think we can grab something on our way there, I’ll take care of this and hop in the shower,” I said pouring the ashes out of my toaster into the trash. “You just need to throw on some jeans and a… top that keeps you modest; my boss will take notice if you waltz in wearing one of MY shirts.” The two of us got ready pretty quick. I needed to be there by seven, but I had to get Luna in to meet my boss before my shift, and I’m sure Larry would be there too. So I had to make my case for two people, well one person and a pony disguised as a person before my shift started. We finally arrived around 05:50. As I predicted Larry was there too, but before we stepped out of the car Luna had one rather silly question. “Who’s Denny?” she asked. “And why are we in front of his house?” “This isn’t someone’s house Luna,” I said trying to fight a laugh. “It’s a restaurant, like the McDonald’s in Wal-Mart, only bigger… and people tend to stay here longer.” “Ah, is this where we shall dine before we go to your place of business?” “Well kind of…” I replied. “This IS my place of business, I’m the day manager.” “So you hold a high office here?” she asked. “Yeah I guess so, I’m pretty much right under the general manager.” I said opening my door, “Come along now, I need to see if I can get you and Larry a job before seven thirty.” Luna nodded and proceeded to exit the vehicle, not without my help, of course and the two of us made our way to Larry. He was wearing some casual button up shirt and a pair of shorts, pacing back and forth in front of the door like a dog that really needed to go to the bathroom. I never really knew that he could get that nervous about something as simple as a job interview. “Hey you two.” Larry said nervously rubbing his arm. “Been waitin’ for ya.” “I can see that Larry,” I said raising an eyebrow, “but you really don’t need to be so nervous, I’ll be doing most of the talking.” “You will?” Larry asked surprised, “but I thought this was-“ “I’m helping you out right now Larry.” I interrupted, “Just let me handle it.” Larry nodded nervously towards me about the same time I turned my attention to Luna to give her a pep talk, but when I did I just saw her looking up to me with a smile. That smile, I could get lost in a smile like hers. Maybe Gordon was right, Luna was letting me come out of my shell, turning me into the person that she saw in me. “Aedan?” Larry asked, “Are we going to go inside anytime soon?” “What?” I replied, coming back to the real world, I really didn’t know how long I was staring at her but I realized that the three of us still were outside. “Oh yeah… follow me to the back office, I’m sure Mrs. Burns would like to have a good look at you two.” The two followed me past the hustle and confusion that comes with working at a 24/7 diner to the back offices, where the person in question was awaiting the three of us. Mrs. Burns was a woman in her early thirties, but she looked about my age, jet black hair, piercing green eyes. I found it odd that a woman like her was already a mother of three, because she didn’t look it at all. She always had a smile on and was always more than willing to help someone out. I was lucky that I found her after I got out, granted she probably would’ve given me a job regardless, since her husband is an actively serving Chief in the Navy. “Oh Aedan.” She said giving me her copyrighted ‘welcome’ hug. “I’m glad to see you’re back from your vacation, things were starting to get crazy here without you.” “I was only gone a week and a half.” I replied, “I’m sure Dane couldn’t screw it up THAT bad.” “Bless that boy’s heart.” She said shaking her head, “He tries so hard, but he just can’t get the job done like you can.” “I’ve had plenty of experience leading small groups of people.” I said brushing off the compliment. “He’s just trying to pay through college.” “That’s why I gave you the day manager job so soon.” She continued, “I knew you could handle it…” her eyes finally left me and looked to the two behind me “and who are these two lovely young people?” “Mrs. Burns…” I began, “This is Larry Donavan and Luna Connelly, both friends of mine.” “I see.” See said walking past me to get a better look at them, “Hello, I’m Maria Burns, wonderful to meet you.” She extended her hand to Larry first who nervously grabbed it and shook it with anticipation. After Larry had removed his jitters via an overly long hand shake she turned her attention to Luna, but instead of accepting it she bowed humbly before her. “Greetings Mrs. Burns,” she began, “I am Luna Connelly, and I request to be granted permission to work alongside Aedan and yourself.” “So formal.” Mrs. Burns said nodding, but I could only lower my head and pinch the point between my eyes and sigh. “But you can just call me Maria or even 'M', Aedan is the only one who still calls me Mrs. Burns.” She turned around slowly enough for me to pop back to attention. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Ryan?” “Just a habit.” I replied, “You know, used to it and all.” “Oh, I understand Aedan,” she said walking back to her desk, “I’ve been married to a military man for the past fourteen years.” She sat down in her chair and offered the three of us the chairs around her office. “Now I’m sure you didn’t bring these two here just so I could say ‘hi’.” “Well Mrs. Burns…” I began “You’re right… you see, these two need a job, Larry just got laid off his job of over ten years and Luna is an old friend from back home staying with me until some… ‘Issues’ are taken care of.” “Well we go through waitresses faster than anything…” She said Looking Luna up and down, “and she fits the type perfectly… as for him.” She turned her attention to Larry, “I could use a new bus boy… old one went off to college in Colorado.” “So they have the job?” I asked. “Of course they do.” Mrs. Burns replied, “Anyone who’s a friend of yours is as good as hired in my eyes.” Mrs. Burns then stood up and walked to her closet and opened it, revealing a plethora of uniforms. Grabbing one men’s and one woman’s she tossed them to their respective new owners with a smile. “Welcome to the Denny’s family.” She said, “You can get to work right now.” “Oh thank you Maria!” Larry exclaimed hastily throwing his new shirt on, “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.” “I’m sure you won’t.” Mrs. Burns said with a smile. “Just head on back there, Alfred will bring you up to speed.” Without a second’s hesitation Larry darted towards the direction Mrs. Burns was pointing. It was good to see Larry happy, especially after his little ‘episode’ yesterday. My ‘good job’ state was short lived, because I realized that Mrs. Burns had made Luna a waitress, possibly the worst choice for her given what I knew about her. “Uh… Mrs. Burns…” I said the second Luna walked out the door. “Did you just make her a waitress?” “Of course I did.” She replied, “and a pretty little number like that will easily make enough money in tips that she can help take care of her ‘issues’ you were talking about.” “But… Mrs. Burns…” I said reluctantly, “Luna… well… she…” I tried to think of something clever, but my mind was running a blank, mainly because my mind kept reverting to Luna’s smile again and again. I had to focus quickly; but Mrs. Burns beat me to it. “Oh, don’t worry Aedan.” She said, “I’m sure your girlfriend will be able to take a few gentlemen looking her up and down once or twice.” “Yeah that’s the… wait what?” “I assumed the way you were looking at her and vice-versa that the two of you were a couple.” Mrs. Burns said, “Was I wrong?” “Yeah that’s wrong!” I replied shocked, “Luna’s JUST a friend… JUST a FRIEND…” “Oh I’m terribly sorry about that.” She replied, trying not to laugh at my reaction, “But the two of you-“ “Are just friends…” I said again, “And if it’s not too much to ask-” “Of course you can keep an eye on her.” Mrs. Barns said finishing my statement, “I’d know I’d feel a little protective of my ‘good friend’ their first day of the job.” I grunted at her while I made my way to the actual dining portion of the Denny’s. Her response was an outburst of laughter, but I was already gone before she had stopped. If she only knew that the new cute waitress she had hired was actually a princess from another part of the multiverse. If anyone other than Gordon found out… oh God… this was a terrible mistake. I should’ve just let her stay at home and answer the door for only a few people, now she’s going to experience the world through the eyes of a waitress, which through my own experience, wasn’t all that fun. Damn you hindsight, why can’t you be foresight instead? The first few hours of the day went off without a hitch. Larry had loaded in two hours what it normally took Alfred and crew a whole day to do and Luna was actually doing quite well as a waitress. Maybe because I’d purposely send her to the tables with two or less old people so she could get the hang of her new job, but in this business even I can’t be there all the time. I went to the bathroom to take care of normal manly body functions for no more than five minutes. When I came out I saw Luna standing next to a table that no waitress, old or new, should’ve taken. At the table were the Trents; five man-children ranging from seventeen to twenty five, notorious womanizers and well known for harassing our female workers on and off shift. Furious, I went over to our head waitress, Debbie, cliché I know, but that was her name. “What the hell Deb!” I whispered in furry, “Luna just started working here today!” “Hey it was either her or me.” Debbie replied, “And there’s NO way I’m serving THOSE boys again.” “Where the hell is James, Anton, David… or any of our waiters for that matter?” “On break…” “All of them?!” “Well… yeah they saw you go to the bathroom and they all rushed outside.” “When they get back… You send them to me…” I growled, storming off to the table. “Hey where you goin’?” She asked. “I’m getting Luna out of there…” I seethed, I was seeing red, and if Mrs. Burns were out here, she’d see red too. The Trents would come down here some days cause a scene and promptly leave before anyone could call the police. Their favorite tactic was to either wait outside and surround one of our waitresses and begin to harass her until myself or another man showed up, or sit inside and see if a girl would come to take their order. It just had to be Luna, I thought, these bastards are going to try something on Luna. I grew angrier and angrier as I continued to think about it, the moment one of them tried anything, oh there would be hell to pay. As I neared the table Luna left, a slightly confused look on her face. Walking up to me she seemed a bit concerned. “Aedan.” She began, “I’m having some trouble understanding their order.” “What was it?” I asked, calming myself down. “Well they said they wanted several things… but they weren’t on the menu.” “Such as?” “Well one said they wanted my clam… but we lack clams according to this.” That sparked some rage, but I waited to see what else they asked for. “Another asked for a ‘gang bang’ I think he meant Grand Slam… another asked for a ‘B.J.’, but I didn’t know what it stood for, one asked for a ‘My Dickens’ Cider’, but there is no Apple Cider of that brand… the only thing I could really get them was when one asked for a crème pie.” ‘Crème pie’ was the moment I nearly lost it. I stormed past Luna right towards their table, eyes that if I were Superman, would’ve been glowing red. The Trents ignored me for a moment, fist bumping and high fiving one another for their actions. Finally the youngest, and easily the stupidest, of them noticed me. “Oh!” he said in a high pitched voice, “If it isn’t ol’ Faggot himself! I thought you finally realized that we’d all kick your ass eventually and ran outta town! Guess you’re dumber than we thought!” His brothers proceeded to ‘tool’ praise him, but I was unmoved by his enlightened words. “Aw Speechless big boy?” the middle one asked. “Bra, I think he scared…” the oldest said the sound of his brothers egging him on, “Yeah I bet you scared, hell you’d probably bitch out even if lil’ Trent came at you.” His brothers all did that annoying Jersey Shore ‘Oh’ thing that kids today thought were cool. I remained, still unamused by their primitive banter. “You need to leave…” I growled, “Now…” “What was that?” the second oldest asked, “Big boy growing some backbone? That’s new… normally you back off because you know you can’t take us.” “You’re harassing my workers,” I said trying to keep my calm, “Leave before I call the police… again.” ”Bra he’s as scared as ever!” The youngest said, “Gonna hide behind the pigs again!” “I knew he’d be too chicken to fight us.” The oldest said, “Oh hey boys, looks like our meal’s back.” The moment I turned around I saw Luna, smiling, God that smile again. She also had a Grand Slam and a Boston Crème Pie. Stepping next to me she placed said palter on the table. “I apologize; I couldn’t get everything you asked for.” She said, but I got you your Grand Slam, your pie and some Cider.” She did her best to pass the plates out, while I watched making sure they didn’t try anything. It seemed like my presence had stopped them, until she passed the pie to the second youngest, which grabbed her arm and smiled. “This ain’t the pie I wanted…” he said licking his lips. “Oh I’m sorry, now unhand me.” Luna said trying to free herself from his dirty hands, “What kind would you like?” He pulled her in closer “Yours…” He whispered reaching around her and giving her a pinch. Her little whelp was the fuse that lit the keg brooding inside me, I shouldn’t have let it get that far, but what I was about to do would rectify my previous lack of action. His face promptly met my fist, then the table. The other four brothers jumped back in their seats while Luna clung to me tightly. The restaurant fell silent the four still conscious brothers staring in disbelief at their downed brethren, a small pool of red forming under his cheek. “Oh you gonna PAY now boy!” the oldest said taking a swing at me. Though it had been over a year since I’d trained in hand to hand combat, once you train with Recon you never forget. His attack was predictable, a right haymaker directed to my face, easy to block and easier to counter, a proper strike to the solar plexus sent him to the ground, gasping like a fish out of water. That was two out of five, no doubt the others were going to try to preserve that they believed to be their ‘honor’. I was answered quickly, the youngest tried to get me from behind, but with a single elbow strike to the chest he keeled over like the weakling he was, I didn’t even bother to go halfway on him. Three of five, getting close to ending it, a strike to my stomach, the second oldest, he actually looked like he knew how to fight. I waited for the moment of his next blow, the moment he dropped his shoulder my fist hit the side of his neck, sending him to the floor, just as limp as his younger brother. I looked back to Luna after they all lay there beaten. “You ok?” I asked through heavy breaths. She nodded; eyes wider than ever. I began to calm down, but then I remembered, there were five… where was the middle child? My Question was answered in the sound of a thud behind me. I turned around to see the missing brother face down on the floor covered in what I could only assume was a grand slam. When I looked up I saw Luna, wielding a plate in both hands staring intently at the downed man’s body. “Are you unharmed?” she asked, looking back up to me. I nodded; she dropped the plate and rushed to my side holding on so tight that I thought that no one would be able to pry her off. “It’s alright Luna…” I said softly rubbing her back, “It’s ok… I’m here.” The Denney’s was still silent, still in shock at what they’d seen. It wasn’t until Mrs. Burns walked out of her office and saw the five men on the ground surrounding Luna and I that a word was mentioned. “Oh, my God…” she said covering her mouth, “Wha-what happened?” “Aedan is not fault, Mrs. Barns!” Luna exclaimed. “These uncivilized beasts forced his hand!” she kicked the youngest, who was trying to struggle to his feet, right in the balls, quickly sending him back to the ground, writhing in pain. “I… I don’t know what to say…” she said, looking at them. “Good God Aedan, what have you done?” The entire restaurant cast their gaze to me, I tried to think of the right words to say, but I never got the chance. The sound of police sirens cut my train of thought.