For the entire train ride, Rusty nervously shuffled the deck cards in his hands, attention jumping briefly to Gem’s net-covered kneecaps before tearing away again. Since Gem was, at his core, a naughty bitch, he reached out and massaged Rusty’s notched ear, making the Pyclon shiver.
“It’s okay to be nervous,” Gem said, another hand covering Rusty’s fidgeting ones. “But it’s just a card trick. You’re gonna do great, and I’m gonna be right there in the audience for emotional support.”
Rusty’s only response was a grunt, but he angled his hand enough to grasp Gem’s tightly. Bringing their clasped hands to rest on his thigh, Gem settled in as the train chugged toward Purgatory, smiling like a fiend as Rusty’s thumb claw tentatively traced the netting.
The moment they were inside the cafe, he removed his hoodie and hung it on the coat rack near the front door. Rusty inhaled sharply, and Gem tried to look innocent as he faced the Pyclon and beamed down at him. His eyes were wide and something feral glinted in the depths as he stared at Gem’s belly piercing.
“I found these boots at the thrift store,” Gem said conversationally, and Rusty’s attention jumped down, throat clicking with a thick swallow. Spinning in a slow circle so Rusty had ample time to take in every angle, Gem asked, “Do you like my outfit, Rus?”
In answer, a wave of thick, heady pheromones blasted right into him, and he grinned smugly down at the glaring Pyclon.
“You look like a hooker,” Rusty bit out, and Gem preened.
“Thank you, that’s so sweet.”
Rusty’s ear twitched. “It’s not a compliment.”
With a shit-eating grin, Gem leaned down until their noses nearly touched and purred, “Your pheromones say otherwise.”
Before Rusty could reply, someone cleared their throat delicately behind him. “Um, Gem?” Glyma said, breaking the moment. “Could I speak with you for a moment?”
Straightening, Gem sent Rusty a parting wink before he turned to the Succubus. “Of course, Glym. What’s up?”
“In Quin’s office?” Glyma gestured to the hallway, and Gem’s stomach dropped.
“Oh, okay. Wait, am I in trouble?”
Glyma tittered and shook her head. “Of course not. It’s just a silly paperwork matter.”
“Alright.” Finger-waving at a still glaring Rusty, Gem backed toward the hallway. “Don’t you dare do your card trick until I get back.”
Rolling his eyes, Rusty settled his earphones into place and trudged to the two round tables that had been pushed together and reserved for their group. Gem followed Glyma down the hall, stepping to the side when Bob scuttled out of Quin’s office toward the dining area.
Quin was already waiting, sitting behind her desk, red eyes somber. Nerves exploded in Gem’s gut as he obeyed Glyma’s instruction to sit down. He took the seat on the other side of the desk as Glyma joined Quin, sitting on the armrest of Quin’s chair.
“Wait, am I actually in trouble?” Gem asked again. “Oh gods, am I about to get fired? Please let me stay for open mic night. I promised Rusty I’d watch his card trick, and he’d never tell you this, but he’s really nervous, so I have to keep my promise.”
“Gem,” Glyma said, but Gem shook his head.
“After that, if you wanna kick me out, I’ll go without a fight. You don’t have to call security or anything.” He half-sobbed, gasping for air. “Actually, you probably should call security. I’m already formulating a plan to chain myself to the espresso machine so you can’t ever be rid of me. I’ll live here until I die, and you can’t do shit about it! Fuck the man, even though that’s sexist. Women make better bosses and should be in power more.”
“Gem,” Quin said, but Gem flattened several hands on the desk.
“Please, I can do better. I promise I won’t flirt with customers anymore, and I’ll wear the cafe aprons, even if they clash with my outfit. I’ll pay forall my coffees and stop using expired dairy on customers who are rude to me.”
“Gem, we’re not firing you!” Glyma said, and Gem collapsed onto the desk with a cry.
“You’re not?”
“No, so you don’t have to do any of those things,” Glyma said.
“Well, you should stop serving expired dairy to customers,” Quin said, and Glyma nodded.
“That’s true. Don’t do that anymore.”
Sitting up, Gem wiped at the tears gathering in his eyes and nodded exuberantly. “Totally. No more revenge lattes.”
“We wanted to talk to you about something else,” Glyma said, pink eyes sparking in excitement. “A very good something else.”
