Chapter Text
Closing time.
It had been a busy day working at the café, a long one that’s for sure. The sun has long since settled down for the moon to take its place, and less and less demons showed up quickly ordering any kind of brew or pastries at the last minute before the eventual clock could strike ‘Wrap it up’ PM, which was at nine.
After he’d served the last customer their order, Slingshot waved them goodbye with a smile accompanied by a “Hope to see you next time!” Right as it struck closing hour.
From there, the place stood vacant. Bits of trash littered the floor along with “puddles” from various drinks that demons ordered during their stay which left some parts of the floor covered in a sticky residue. Crumbs were scattered on the table coupled with some coffee spills that were beginning to stain overtime.
It would’ve been hard getting everything fit to be ready for lights out by himself. However, Slingshot had Shuriken and Vine Staff, demons who are like family to him, help the restaurant owner throughout opening and closing hours.
Once it was sure that no more customers were gonna come in, it was time to close up shop. It was a process that would’ve taken longer if not for Shuriken and Vine Staff’s assistance.
Coffee machines were shut off for the night to prevent racking up the energy bill, obviously. Shuriken swept up the floor to the best of his abilities making sure to get junk from every nook and cranny of the building, litter that was previously scattered on the tiles was now being brought to a duster into a large bin with the help of a broom.
With a rag coated in disinfection in hand, Vine Staff dragged the piece of cloth down on the table while simultaneously putting in extra weight. It was to insure the tables, along with the chairs were given a rough scrub to rid them of stains, or any germs that were left behind.
After another exhausting hour of scrubbing down the front and kitchen counters next to mopping the floors and clearing out the rest of the leftover desserts alongside other things, the place was pristine almost like it had been untouched. A stark contrast to how it was before.
All three workers were now more than eager to finally clock out as it left them all drained and tired, Shuriken especially was ready to head back to their place and doze off. Since it was past the time they wanted to be there, Slingshot waved the siblings goodbye as he turned off the last remaining cafe lights, signaling the place now officially closed.
Slingshot lifted the huge trash bag from the bin as it was saved for the last task for the night. It was heavy with build up of rubbish that demons have thrown away during the following day.
Despite his fatigue from the long clean up, it’s not something Slingshot couldn’t handle doing.
He flung it over his shoulder, cringing as unknown liquid dripped onto his maid outfit. Well that’s going straight in the washer when he gets home, he made his way out the back and began his trek to the side of the building. On his way to the dumpster, Slingshot couldn’t help but let his mind wonder.
Recalling stuff he’s heard during and outside of work. Stories about demons disappearing without a trace, word of a crime group that has been making itself known from one demon to another.
The Mafia.
A name being told by customers who think they’re being discreet about it, from the hushed whispers out of strangers he’d pass by in his walks around Crossroads. Or at least that’s what they called them.
From the way demons talk about them, it makes them out to be another group you do not want to cross lines with, like demons to be weary of. Slingshot has overheard a conversation about a demon that went missing whose horn was sent to their colleague as a threat for the other’s ‘unfinished business.’ There was a rumor that out of the many members of the group, one of them shared a gear with their boss.
Slingshot wasn’t quite sure if that last part was true or not. But given he’d already made it to the dumpster and was just stalling there while the trash was still in his hands while more of that liquid was dripping down his back, he figured to not think about it for much longer.
No use for dwelling on things he has no business in right? Slingshot tossed the black plastic bag into the giant containers with haste, his movements were sluggish like a Biograft when it’s running out of battery. Fighting the urge to use the concrete ground as a bed, Slingshot sprinted off to his place while using his Quick Feet as a way to hinder his exhaustion.
When he got back to his apartment, his roommates were already dead asleep tired from the busy day. Shuriken was toppled over on the couch like how a sloth would on a tree branch, he hadn’t even bothered to change out of uniform. For someone who’s supposed to be a ninja, he snored like everyone needed to know he was getting a good night's sleep.
Though Vine Staff has gotten used to her brother’s sounds in the night, Slingshot couldn’t say the same but he was too tired to deal with it.
Using what little energy he had left, Slingshot changed out of his trash tainted uniform, putting it in a laundry bin to be washed the next day and into something that was more comfortable to wear. A t-shirt with shorts.
Finally with everything that‘s done, Slingshot collapsed onto his bed feeling the weight of today's work all catching up to him. He nuzzled his face into his pillow while his body began to settle into the comfort of the soft mattress, a hum of satisfaction escaping his lips as exhaustion took over him.
As he drifted off into slumber, a memory came in the form of a dream about an encounter with a customer during one evening.
Now, Slingshot has had many interactions with various demons who came into the café. Ranging from the most patient inphernals in the whole inpherno, to ones that always seem to have a nasty attitude.
However this one stuck out to him the most.
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Skies were mixtures of orange and purple from the sun setting half way in the horizon which shone through the windows together with the glass doors leading into the building. The busy atmosphere that ‘Slingshot's Cat Café ’ would normally have with sounds of customers walking in and out of the place along with demons clamoring to one another was replaced by minimal sounds of small chatter from demons who were just there to hang out with background noise being Shuriken and Vine Staff working in the back. This made the place have a cozy feel similar to a local coffee shop you would find in a smaller part of town.
Though, Slingshot didn't mind the cluster of demons crowding the front counter eager to get their hands on the sweet treats that were the pastries up on display, nor the banter between demons about how their day was or some spicy gossip from time to time.
But after a long day of being in the kitchen, serving customers while also dealing with demons trying to start something while stopping to take breaks when he gets the chance meanwhile either of the siblings were trying to cover for him the best they can. It was nice when there was less demons present in the buliding.
Ones who were just there trying to enjoy a cup of joe with a few scones by the side, or a young teen typing away on their laptop whilst sipping their choice of either coffee or tea.
It was calm, peaceful even. It's why evenings are his favorite.
Today was nothing out of the ordinary, well for the most part. The café was hushed with the exception of Vine Staff and her brother in the kitchen, only a small number of demons were present at the tables chatting to each other about the smallest of things. Slingshot paid no attention as he was appreciating the calmness of it all.
That is until he was alerted by the sounds of the front doors opening then shutting after words, the café owner stood up right as he heard footsteps walking on tiles approach the counter signaling that a customer had arrived.
They glanced around seeming to admire the place before making it the front.
As soon as they got close, The first thing Slingshot noticed is how tall they were, he believed the demon stood around six feet or somewhere around that height. They're dressed in all black, wearing a suit and tie with a big overcoat on top of it, on one of the buttons hung a golden chain that seemed to be made with the real stuff rather than being plated. A fedora sat neatly on their head which casted a shadow over their eyes obscuring half their facial features, not something demons would normally wear. Their black horns had the shape of a rabbit's ears similar to how his resembled cat ears which were peaking from their hat.
Slingshot swore the moment they walked in, he felt a shift in the atmosphere. The few customers that were there previously minding their business now stared at the demon like they walked in the wrong room.
Murmurs of the customer surfaced from others wondering about what this demon, who was dressed in an upper class fit is doing at a place like this which broke the previously peaceful vibe to the place, however it seems the black suited figure didn't seem to mind. Like they were used to it.
Despite initially being taken a back by this newest arrival to the café, they were still a customer who was just trying to grab something sweet to enjoy. So pushing down that heavy feeling, Slingshot put on his customer voice as best he can as he greeted the taller demon.
"Welcome to Slingshot's Cat Café! My name is Slingshot, and how may I help you today?"
The customer glanced up to observe the menu, their eyes seem to scan the various items for something they might be interested in, humming to their self while they fixed their gaze on the list of pastries.
Slingshot couldn't help but feel like they were taking quick glances towards him but it was hard to tell with how their fedora hid their eyes. Were they judging his choice of maid dresses being his work place clothing, or seeing how much time it takes before his patience wears thin? Or somehow feeling the hidden worry the restaurant owner felt from being caught nearly slacking off.
After a very long pause, they eventually settled for five different desserts in which Slingshot quickly jostled down on a notepad. The customer was quick to ask for another addition to their batch of sweets.
"And if it's not too much trouble, could I also get an order of five coffees please." Their voice had an accent but it's one that Slingshot didn't recognize anywhere, it's clear that they're from one of the fractions but he wasn't sure which one. Despite it's gravelly as well as deep sound to the customer's voice, their tone however seem to put Slingshot at ease.
"Will that be to go?" He questioned. The customer replied.
"Yes please."
He watched the customer reach into their coat with a gloved hand pulling out a leather wallet that looked a little worn from age, they handed him a good twenty bux and told him to keep the change.
Slingshot went to the kitchen calling out to his friends for an order of five cups of coffee, he could have thought he heard Shuriken say "sweet Illumina" while Vine Staff was already preparing the cups. Slingshot returned to the front counter to find the customer still there waiting patiently, he assured them that his order will be done soon.
Given how long it'll take for the coffee to brew along with some newfound confidence, he decided to strike up a conversation. "That was a lot of stuff." Slingshot joked taking a jab at the customer's order of ten items "What you… feeding a whole family?"
The customer let out a small chuckled seemingly humored by Slingshot's remark. "Well I guess you can that.. I figured my boys deserve a little treat for all of their hard work." "Oh really? What kind of job do they have?" Slingshot asked curious about what the customer meant by 'work'. They were silent for a moment before replying.
"That's… classified."
Right, probably some private business that's best not to pry them about it. The two chatted for a bit not knowing how much time has passed, the rest of the conversation being lost on Slingshot before he was called into the kitchen by either Vine Staff or Shuriken to let him know that all five joes were done.
He excused himself as he went to the kitchen and came back with a tray filled with coffee cups of the hot steamy drinks ready to go. After setting them on the counter, Slingshot placed the selected treats into a paper bag sitting them next to the tray.
Having now picked up their order, the customer begin to make their way to the front door but not before thanking Slingshot and his two friends for all of their hard work. He hit them with a “Hope to see you next time!” as he watched them walk out out of the building.
Slingshot noticed before the demon exited the café, they left something in the tip jar. He looked into the glass container and was bewildered to find a stack of a hundred bux.