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Jensen, the host and pretty face of Rom & Remus’ Estiatorio, has been harboring a secret. He thought it was a stupid, embarrassing thing and would gladly have taken it to his grave… if not for his best friend. Christian is one of the wait staff at the eatery and is a never-ending source of entertainment for the entire establishment.
Christian is snarky and sarcastic to everyone but is also the most intelligent and experienced. He is also constantly driving the owners insane with all of his ingenious ways to ‘work smarter, not harder’. The owners, Rob and Rich, are the Rs behind Rom & Remus and are constantly confused by Christian’s nonchalant, flippant treatment of their authority and yet he still pulls in regulars who specifically ask to be seated in his section. He’s pulled in plenty of revenue, so they’ve never fired him. They were probably afraid to, with what he seemed to know about the industry.
Christian was also incredibly perceptive. He’d noticed Jensen was acting nervous the past few days and when he wasn’t distracted with lunch or dinner rushes, he was blushing and deep in thought. After a week of witnessing his bestie suffer, he decided to ask what the hell was up.
“It’s nothing. It’s so stupid and embarrassing.”
“Listen, nothing could possibly be that bad. You’ve been slowly spiraling all week. You’re gonna implode sooner or later.”
Jensen knew Christian was right. It was only a matter of time until he did something to get himself busted and the entire staff would know, including his crush. He couldn’t live with that. Rolling his eyes, he fidgeted with a menu as he confessed. “I think I’m… attracted to someone I work with.”
Christian paused for a second, not sure whether to approach with his usual jokey nature or to just be serious for once. Of course, he couldn’t resist. “Oh lord, it’s not me, is it? I mean, I love ya kid, truly, but-”
“Shut up. Stop it. I’m serious, man, it’s embarrassing. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s actually hot or if it’s because of that whole workplace taboo thing.”
“Wow, dude, now I’m really curious. Who is it? Is it the bartender, Tyler? You know his charisma’s all an act for the patrons who pay him, right?” Tyler Hoechlin kept the guests of the restaurant happily plied with spirits and ales. Aside from the owners, he’d been there the longest, so he’d seen the owners through many an employee until this latest team. He also knew every regular by name and made his fair share of tips.
The mystique behind Tyler was he charmed everyone, from the dirty birdies who went gaga over his ice-blue eyes to the delivery guys who supplied his liquor restock. That’s how he got some of the most expensive bottles on the shelf behind him. The only reason he wasn’t the worker with the most tips was because of the disproportionate amount of dining customers to patrons who sat at the bar.
Jensen made an annoyed face that was truly epic. He clearly wasn’t that gullible. “For frack’s sake, it’s not Tyler. It’s actually so much worse.”
“Ooh, is it Chad? Oh, brother, you gotta tell me or I’m gonna lose it,” Christian said grinning playfully at how Jensen was squirming. It really wasn’t a huge deal. People caught crushes at work all the time. What mattered was whether it was worth acting on and how one acted upon it. But he always enjoyed giving Jensen a tough time and he knew that Jensen would never take his teasing too close to heart. Jensen was one of the very few who knew the snark and sarcasm was Christian’s work persona.
“Is what Chad?” Of course, Chad Michael Murray would appear like a ninja at the mere utterance of his name.
“Ugh, nothin’. Go on, git.” Christian was an ornery bastard most of the time, but he would protect each and every one of his teammate’s secrets if they confided in him, which they often did.
“Eww, no, go away,” Jensen said at the same time, getting exasperated because all he frickin’ needed now was for half the staff to start gathering at his station looking for gossip only for said gossip to turn out to be him! He looked at Christian with pleading eyes that turned grateful when he heard him drive Chad away.
Chad was another server at the restaurant. He infamously made great tips because he was attentive and quick. It also helped that people thought he was easy on the eyes. That was how he was able to flirt his way through each and every table. The only person who made better tips than him was Christian, and Jensen knew they combined those tips when they went home together anyway. Christian was the only person who could boss Chad around at work. How no one else noticed was something that never ceased to amaze Jensen. True to his best friend, though, Jensen never disclosed the knowledge of his relationship.
As Chad walked away, there was noise from the kitchen. He looked between Jensen and Christian and said, “You know, the chef’s calling for runners, right?”
In the background, they finally heard it clearly, “FOOD’S UP! I NEED SOME RUNNERS HERE!”
At the sound of that voice, Jensen blushed, set his mouth in a shy, guilty grin, and his bright green eyes grew wide. Christian could have sworn he saw the man’s pupils dilate. Christian’s jaw hit the floor. “No way!”
Jensen tried to tuck his head into his shoulders. “I like when he slaps the top of the runner’s station with those big ass paws of his and that Texas drawl. I even like it when he yells at me a little,” he said with a grimace.
“Jared. Chef Jared, the new kid?!”
“Keep your voice down, damnit! I told you it was stupid.”
Christian turned deadly serious at that point; the time for ribbing was over. “Ok, hold up. Two things. One, it’s not stupid. The whole thing of chef uniforms being like catnip to hostesses, or in this case hosts,” he quickly corrected when Jensen’s face dropped all shame and opted for murder instead, “is obvious, and B, if this is something you want, it’s not impossible. But you gotta be careful how you navigate things.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, there’s a bit of a power dynamic issue to consider. Host and line cook, no problem. It’s even expected in this industry. Host and executive chef, however, you’d be risking your job.”
“Who’s risking their job? For what?” Alexander Calvert innocently asks as he happens to pass by within hearing distance with a pot of coffee and the wide-eyed look of bumbling inexperience on his face. “Who’s job?” Chad saunters over right behind him and inquires as though he’s about to solve a huge mystery.
“Hey! Go away, you two. Seriously.” Christian growls as Jensen puts his head in his hands and mumbles that he can’t take much more of this. He puts his scary face on because now he means business. There’re too many people gathered at the host stand and it won’t be long before they’re all busted.
“Just as I thought. Every fuckin’ time. If I can’t find servers, there’s only one spot to look. Get y’all’s asses away from the host stand, put some pepper in your damn step, and run the fuckin’ plates!” For a young guy, Jared had the intimidating stance and booming voice of authority that no one ever seemed to see coming and Chad and Alex both scattered as if they’d been the ones standing there the entire time.
Christian looked at Jared with mirth in his eyes and mumbled to Jensen, “Baby boy is Daddying.” Jensen, embarrassed and frozen, and maybe turned on to hell, mouthed ‘SHUT UP!”
“What the fuck did you say Kane?”
“Nothin’ boss, just goin’ to run some food. Later, Jensen.” But before he could move, Jared started in on Jensen. “Jensen, man, you’re killin’ me. I’mma need you to stop stacking so many reservations so damn close, alright?”
Now, Christian noticed, but he was fairly sure that Jensen hadn’t. Jared’s tone was just a hint different with Jensen than with the rest of them. It still had some urgency, but it was more patient, more imploring than commanding. He expected that to roll off Jensen like water off a duck, but apparently, it didn’t matter what tone Jared used.
Jensen, previously lost somewhere in his lustful thoughts, simply stammered, “Shit... Umm…”
Christian acted quickly. He wasn’t going to let his friend be embarrassed by this exchange, otherwise he’d never get over it and there was some real potential here. Chef Jared Padalecki wasn’t some tall, Adonis-looking asshole on a power trip. He was just claiming his territory and it wouldn’t be long before the entire staff respected him, and he could let his guard down a bit. He paused in his walk back toward the kitchen, looked back at Jensen and said, “Just say ‘Yes, Chef.” Then he looked at Padalecki to see his reaction.
Jared’s stance shifted and his gasp was just loud enough for Christian’s seasoned ears to hear. Yep, Jared definitely liked that shit.
Jensen didn’t hesitate, and said, “Yes, Chef.”
A week later, those two words had a completely different meaning to Jensen and Jared outside of the restaurant.