Souvenir [Complete]

Twelve. The Bandit

"What do you mean you're out of maple syrup?" Luke whined to John the next morning. He was using his pouty blue eyes. They were his favorite weapon, and they'd been working for him since he was old enough to control his pout. Except in extreme cases.

This must have been one of those times.

"I'm sorry, Luke," John said to soothe him, and then turned to the crowd of dissatisfied people behind him. "I've searched everywhere for more. Karen is gone to the store to get some. So if everyone would return to their seats, she'll be back shortly."

Luke pouted, for real this time, and sat back in his seat across from Brian. "Hell must be frozen over today." He grumbled stirring the little granules of undissolved sugar into his coffee.

"I'm sorry, Lukey, I know how much you love the syrup," Brian held Luke's hand across the table and Luke blew raspberries in the air.

"I guess I'll have to order my back up..."

"Boss, I think I figured out the issue," Ashton hummed loud enough that Luke could hear half way across the store. He had a clip board in hand. "You think that's a five?" Luke watched as he showed John the clip board. "I'm seeing a five."

"Oh christ," John took the clip board, his face red. "That explains why a whole carton of maple syrup's gone. Who wrote the C-O-G's for me last Monday?"

"I think I did," Ashton hummed. "Looks like my unreadable handwriting, and i seem to remember doing it."

"Ashton, I told you before. Keep the handwriting clear." John pressed at the bridge of his nose like he had a headache.

"I got it," Ashton nodded in that smooth way Luke had noticed. "Don't worry, this was the last time. I don't wanna see you panicked."

John sighed and disappeared back into his office, leaving Ashton free to check on all the tables. Including Luke's.

"You're the reason I won't be getting my fix this morning," Luke glowered at him.

"Relax," Ashton hummed and looked up from his syrup with a sort of bemused look, like Luke's glare amused him more than it scared him. "Karen's going to get more, don't tie me to the horses yet."

"Oh, Luke takes the syrup very seriously," Brian spoke up, and Luke wished he'd stay quiet.

Ashton's eyes seemed to flit over to Brian like he'd just noticed he was there, even though Ashton had been the one who brought them their drinks. "Does he, now?"

"Luke has compared it to crack so I think that's pretty serious," Brian cooed cluelessly.

"I mean, it's just maple syrup, I think I'll live without it," Luke said awkwardly.

"That's brave of you," Ashton nodded. But unlike their usual banter this just felt like Ashton was making fun of him. Maybe it was because of prying eyes.

Luke blushed and went back to stirring his coffee.

"You already know what you wanna order?" Ashton cleared his throat and his tone changed to that of a serious waiter.

"I'll just get the waffle," Luke said softly. Ashton took an extra second to write it down.

"And if I told you we were having a sale on eggs and waffles would you want cheese in your eggs?"

Luke blushed under the assumption that Ashton was just ordering that for him. But nodded.

Ashton took off after Brian had ordered and Luke thought how interesting that was. Had Ashton actually remembered the comment that Luke had made about how much he could eat? Or did he just feel guilty?