Work Text:
The door to the diner swung open with a small, cheerful chime. The tail end of the morning’s sunrise gave the place a warm, slightly ethereal look. The stone flooring of the place still looked slightly damp, the mop propped against the wall in the corner the likely suspect. A man sat near the back of the place, white hair covering most of his face as he reclined across one of the booths, seemingly unaware that she’d entered. If Gem breathed in through her nose, she could smell the hash-browns and eggs as they sizzled on a nearby stove- almost. However, at the moment any pleasant breakfast scents were overshadowed by the smell of something undeniably burnt-
“Scar, I swear- “
“ETHOOOO- SCAR SET THE TOASTER ON FIRE AGAIN.”
“HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? IT SET ITSELF ON FIRE- ALL I DID WAS TRY TO USE IT.”
“I haven’t clocked in yet Bdubs.” The man sprawled on the booth responded without moving, “I do not care.”
Gem paused just inside the doorway, grip tightening on her tote-bag strap as a brown-haired man rushed out of the kitchen, a flaming toaster clutched between two oversized mitts as he yelled a hurried ‘scuse me! Coming through-’ as he dodged beside her out the still-open door. He was trailed by a shorter, black-haired man hugging a fire extinguisher to his chest- although he didn’t seem to notice or acknowledge Gem’s presence.
“I left you alone for maybe sixty seconds,” Gem turned as yet another person stepped out of the kitchen, door swinging behind them as they entered the main dining area. “And you somehow managed to cause chaos.”
“Sorrrr-ry Mom.” One of the men trilled from outside. The woman rolled her eyes in an exaggerated movement, sighing heavily but with a smile playing at her lips all the same. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, a few stray curls framing her face as she raised a hand to wipe at her face- pausing when she saw Gem.
“Cleo?” Gem asked hesitantly, relieved when the woman smiled and turned to face her fully.
“That’s me.” She raised her hand in a half wave, revealing her coloured palms, a pale green with the tell-tale shimmer of a soulmark with another patch peeking out the top of her shirt. Gem reached up to rub at one of her own marks- two soft yellow splotches on her shoulders and one just above her left eyebrow- as an odd tickle suddenly seized it. “You must be Gem.”
“That’s me.” Gem returned the wave awkwardly as Cleo crossed the room towards her. “Busy morning?”
Cleo laughed as they came to a stop in front of Gem, “You can say that again.” She scoffed, turning to face the glass door- where the two men could be seen chucking the discharged powder at each other- a pile of the stuff sitting on the sidewalk between them which Gem could only assume was built on top of the now extinguished toaster. “Although most days are with these two running around- never a dull moment. You’ll get used to it.”
“Or you’ll quit!” The man at the booth called out cheerfully- startling Gem, who had honestly forgotten he was there. Cleo shrugged, eyes darting towards the man with clear annoyance.
“Or that.” She turned to fully face the white-haired man, the casualness with which she'd been speaking to Gem disappearing. “Speaking of which- Etho!"
"Yes?"
"I told you to tell me when Gem got here.” Cleo scolded, arms crossed and eyes narrow. Etho tilted his head, eyebrows raised in clear amusement as he peered past Cleo to glance at Gem.
“Oh look," He said brightly "Gem’s here.”
“Oh ha ha.” Cleo deadpanned, “You're hilarious.”
“I am, aren’t I?’
“Don’t think I won’t fire you.” Etho’s eyes crinkled, his smile obvious despite the mask covering the lower half of his face.
“Aww, you won’t fire me. You’d lose Bdubs if you did.”
“Eh,” Cleo shrugged. “Scar’s my favourite anyway.” They paused, blinking twice as something seemed to occur to them, turning back to the door. “Speaking of which.”
Gem stepped out of the way, letting Cleo past her as the woman opened the door, both of the men turning to look at her as the bell chimed once again.
“Bdubs! Scar! Get in here and meet Gem and then get that cleaned up-and wash that off right now, it’s going to irritate the hell out of your skin with you letting it sit like that!”
“Okay, Mom!”
“Sorryyyyy.”
“Mom?” Gem couldn’t help but ask.
‘I'm their 'Work Mom'.” Cleo smiled. “Similar the concept of a Work Wife but way more work. It started as a joke and just kinda stuck." She gestured widely to their surroundings, " Welcome to the family Gem. We’ve got the idiot children Scar and Bdubs-” She waved a hand at them as they shuffled back in through the door, Cleo holding it open for them.
“Hel-lo there.”
“Hiya!”
“They’re our servers, and mostly competent. Most of the time.” Cleo let the door close behind them, pointing a thumb at Etho, who had pulled himself up into a lazy sit. “We have wash-up Work Dad Etho- he’s my assistant manager but he mostly just does the paperwork and lazes around.” Etho threw up a peace sign and blew Cleo a kiss- which she ignored.
“I’m Work Mom- I own the place and I’m the head chef. Usually, I’d have a second back there to help me- but they quit a few weeks ago. Scar's been trying to help out since he’s got a food handlers permit as well but…” Gem’s gaze drifted back to the toaster outside, tipped over on the sidewalk and looking cartoonishly burnt as Bdubs reappeared with a broom and trash bag- likely having come out the back door rather than risking getting scolded again when going out the front. ‘None of us are quite sure how he managed to get it in the first place.”
Gem laughed,
“Well, I’m happy to relieve him of duty.” Cleo laughed as well,
“And we’re happy to have you.” Etho made an exaggerated retching sound, and Cleo rolled her eyes again.
“Ignore him.”
“Cleo, that’s so rude. What kind of example are you trying to set?”
“Oh, that’s rich coming from you.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you hearing this Gem? She’s so mean to me-” Gem didn’t process the rest of the sentence- as the door behind her suddenly flew open- hitting her in the back and sending her stumbling forward. Luckily, Cleo’s reflexes were quicker than hers- as they stepped forward, hands reaching out to catch her with a steady grip on her shoulders. Gem’s head bounced off the woman’s collarbone- her neck keeping the momentum of the fall even as her body stopped- but she was otherwise unharmed.
“I’M SO SORR-“
“Bdubs!”
“I WAS CLEANING IT- YOU TOLD ME TO CLEAN IT.”
“I didn’t tell you to immediately injure your new coworker-”
“I DIDN’T MEAN TO-”
“This is why Scar is my favouri-”
“Cleo-” Gem interrupted, trying not to laugh. “-Bdubs, I’m fine, I promise." She stepped back from Cleo, waving away their concern "Besides, it was an accident, and Cleo caught me before I could fall.”
“That’s not the point!” Cleo argued, turning to face Gem as she reestablished her balance, “He needs to be more caref- green?” Gem blinked,
“…What?”
“Green- I, your Soulmarks- they changed.” Gem touched a hand to her mark and then looked at her fingers, almost expecting to see some of the colour had transferred.
“Holy shit.”
“Oh my god.”
“Wait, Cleo- your hands.”
“OH MY GOD.”
Gem fumbled for her phone, swiping the camera icon without bothering to unlock it- the app opening to show-
Her yellow patch on her forehead had turned a pale green, and when she hurriedly shoved her T-shirt down one of her arms to check, her shoulders had gained the same hue. She looked back up at Cleo, mouth open and eyes wide only to see Cleo with a similar expression, hands raised to her face- palms now covered in a soft baby yellow.
“Scar, please tell me you’re recording this.” Bdubs loudly whispered beside them.
“Even if he wasn’t, we’ve got security cameras in here, I can send the footage to you two,” Etho said casually.
“I’m gonna cry-”
“Don’t-you’ll ruin the moment!”
“Oh crap- you’re right-”
“Okay,” Cleo interrupted. “All of you shut up.”
“Does this mean we have a new Work Mom?” Scar asked, eyes wide and shiny.
“Oh my goodness- yes.” Bdubs agreed enthusiastically,
“A Step-Work Mom.” Etho corrected
“No- it doesn’t mean- well it’s up to Gem and we can’t- you are all ridiculous-”
Gem burst out laughing, not being able to help herself, hand flying up to cover her mouth as Cleo turned back to face her, face rapidly flushing.
“As long as I’m-” She cut herself off with a wheeze, struggling to catch her breath. “As long as I’m the favourite Work Parent.” Cleo chuckled, eyes crinkling at the corners as they brushed their hair out of their face to fully meet Gem’s eyes.
“We’ll see about that.” Gem smiled back at her,
“Yeah, we’ll see.”