Chapter Text
It was a busy night in Ratatoing as usual. The lights were dimmed and the sound of people happily chatting with each other filled the room. You also saw Carol, a pretty rat with orchid pink fur, a deep magenta coloured styled bob cut and the restaurant's outfit, who was Marcel’s waiter and assistant conversing with the guests. On the other side of the room you could see Octavio, a lanky blueish rat also wearing the restaurant's waiter outfit. You were sitting at a table near the kitchen enjoying one of Marcel's delicious dishes. The one you were eating was called Larva pie.
You visited Ratatoing a lot but this time you were going to try and summon the courage to talk to and meet the famous chef. The thought of getting to speak with him gave you small butterflies in your stomach. You admired him and his work greatly, considering rats didn't usually get this great food.
"He's just a chef, I need to calm down. It's not a big deal" you thought to yourself, while trying to eat the delicious food. You loved all of Marcel's cooking but you were especially fond of the Larva pie. You loved its slightly hard crunchy surface but soft inside that melted into your mouth. You had never tasted anything better.
Even though meeting Marcel wasn't supposed to be a big deal you had dressed up slightly better than usual. You were wearing a short black, spaghetti strapped dress that had a small cut on your right leg. As shoes you had black combat boots and you were wearing black jewelry in your ears and around your neck.
You continued nervously eating, trying to shake the butterflies off and waiting for the moment Marcel would come and see the guests.
Finally you saw Marcel coming from the kitchen walking over to an elderly couple, and your heart jumped to your throat.
As Marcel stood in the mist of the tables you could see him looking over them. While doing that his eyes momentarily stopped on you and he eyed you quickly up and down. Your face reddened and you tried to avoid eye contact. You still saw his face flush slightly until someone talking caught your -and apparently his- attention again.
"But please tell me young man what is the secret of the great flavor in every one of the dishes you prepare" , and while the older lady was right you felt that it was maybe slightly intrusive to ask for the secret of a chef's specialty meals. As Marcel was about to answer you could see a group of rats over a table swiftly take out notebooks and pens.
"Well uh if I told you it wouldn't be a secret anymore", Marcel smartly answered, a way that made you adore him even more. "Oh please, won't you tell me young man? '' the old lady insisted. “Oh right I'll tell you”, Marcel said, and despite what you just thought you couldn't help but to lean closer to listen to his words. You noticed that you were not the only one. “The actual secret ingredient that can be found in all of the food prepared here is lots and lots of dedication and care”, Marcel joked and you could feel the whole room's disappointment. You on the other hand giggled silently into your paw, a gesture that Marcel noticed and smiled at.
“Oh I just knew he was going to say that”, the old lady complained and continued, “But the food is absolutely fabulous, and I'm sure we’ll be back here often, and thank you for the really great service young man”. “Thank you so much for the support, well I must be going now. See you next time!” Marcel politely said and moved away from their table.
You saw him leave to a table further away from yours and you thought about asking him to come to yours next. The table he went to had the rats from before who had looked very interested in Marcel's so-called ‘secret recipe’ and you couldn't help but wonder in your curiosity if they had good intentions. Your thoughts were cut off by another one of Marcel's workers' voices. It was Greg, a chubby rat with sea green coloured fur, wearing the restaurant's signature outfit. He yells something about an emergency in the kitchen and you deflate a little because now you truly lost your chance to talk with him.
You continued your meal, your ears drooping slightly and disappointment bubbling inside you. When you were done with your meal and were about to call a waiter to give you the check you got a plan that while maybe a little stupid and intrusive would give you a chance to talk with Marcel.
So you left the right amount of money (and some extra) and sneaked into the cleaning closet.
In the musty air of the cleaning closet your own creepiness dawned on you.. hard. You realized that you were in fact cramped in a closet waiting for Marcel to come to the dining area so that you could pretend you hadn’t left yet and get to talk to him one on one. There was a big chance that he wouldn’t even be the one to come. You could feel blush creeping up your face and embarrassment rising in your stomach.
But your embarrassment didn’t last long, for you heard the door open. Your heart jumped to your throat as you heard the voice of Marcel tell his coworkers that he was going to check if the restaurant was empty. You gathered all of your courage and opened the cleaning closet door.