Quid Pro Quo. TaeKook AU

Free food

Four months after the contract ended. 

I threw myself into work. 

What else did I have? 

Hoseok bought the building, I gave him a hundred thousand dollars up front, and I'll continue to make payments to him. He even helped me redecorate

"We got this Kook, I'm so proud of you" he smiled as he hugged me tight

"Thank you so much Hobi, I honestly don't know what I would have done without you"

"Probably work for Jin again" he laughed 

"Like that's a bad thing?" Jin scoffed from behind me as he carried in our first truck order 

"No! It was awesome, I genuinely loved working for you hyung, you know that right?" 

"I know kook, I was only teasing" he half smiled 

He told me that since Tae left me, I've been extra eager to please everyone around me. I'm scared of letting them down, I'm scared of upsetting them, I'm scared they'll leave me. I'm too dependent on my hyungs, and it isn't healthy. Jin tried to talk me into therapy, but I think if I just work harder I'll be okay. 

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Yoongi asked as he wiped down the booths 

"I'm more scared than anything else" 

"Why?"

"What if I don't do as well as I thought? What if my food is garbage?"

"Kookie, your food is fucking phenomenal, you know how to run this place, and if you get overwhelmed you have people who can help you" he put his hand on my shoulder "you got this kiddo. I promise" he ruffled my hair making me scrunch my nose up and laugh 

"Thanks hyung"

"No problem" he waved me off and went back to cleaning up the dining room. 

I took a step back and just watched. 

I watched Yoongi clean. 

I watched Hoseok walk around with his clipboard checking things off.

I watched Jin put away the truck order.

I watched my eight new employees set up the kitchen so that they had their own stations situated for their liking. 

I watched my host put his menus together and make sure they were clean and piled neat by his podium. 

I watched the people walk past the windows, looking in and pointing excitedly. 

My new restaurant was the talk of the town. Me being Jungkook, Taehyung's 'boyfriend' and the fact that this was a new place, specializing in pizza, Italian cuisine, and American favorites, some with a Korean twist. Most of our food is never frozen, and if it does come frozen we don't cook it in bulk and refrigerate it until we need it. No. We cook to order. Nothing sits, nothing gets reheated. Something I picked up on from working with Jin. 

The fresher, the better. 

Our prices are fair as well, just high enough to make a small profit, not anything ridiculous or greedy like a lot of places tend to do. I was pulled out of my thoughts by my phone going off 

Kathy: Hey kookie. I know you're still avoiding me, but I heard your shop is opening up tomorrow and I just want to wish you luck ♡ you got this! 
Me: thank you Kathy ♡ I'm sorry that I cut you out after everything happened, please forgive me for my cold behavior. If you ever stop by, you'll always eat for free! Just tell whoever is working what your name is ♡ 
Kathy: you're still the sweetest! Of course I forgive you!!! And I'll definitely be stopping by some free food! Especially if you're the one cooking!