Forbidden Flame (Mafiatale Grillby x Reader)

Chapter 6- Breakfast

(~Grillby's POV~)

There is a soft tap of a glass plate hitting the tabletop. Normally, I wouldn't panic but... I live alone. I dart up without thinking and get a harsh smack to the forehead. It's the underside of the table. I growl and hold a hand on my head.

'Did I fall asleep during my shift?! Heck- that hurts!'

"Are you okay?!" I open my eyes again to see Y/N. She's standing at the edge of the table, giving me a scared look.

'Right. I forgot.'

Y/N is staying here. I'm downstairs. The bar is closed and it's daytime from what I can tell.
I sigh and rub my head softly. My soul feels exhausted. There's no way I got enough sleep. "What time is it?" I ask. Y/N reads the clock on the wall and replies, "9 AM." I fight myself not to groan.

'I fell asleep an hour ago.'

"I thought you'd like some breakfast. I don't know if you eat but I'm starving." Y/N says with a soft laugh. I sit up slowly, making sure to avoid the table this time. "Yes, I do eat. No matter the species, monster souls require nutrition just as humans do." I inform her. "Oh.." She mumbles. I look down to the plate in front of me. The eggs are overdone but the bacon looks good.

'It's very thoughtful of her.'

"Did you eat?" I ask Y/N. "N-Not yet." She answers, still in a tense and awkward state. I take a deep breath. If it was someone else who had chosen to wake me up this early, I would not be this patient. However, knowing who she is, I can't find the heart to scold her. "Go ahead and fix yourself a plate. We'll have breakfast." I tell her. Y/N nods and runs back into the kitchen. Waking up is so draining. What is also disheartening is knowing that I'll have to clean the entire kitchen again. Again, I choose not to hold anything against her.

'She doesn't know.'

Y/N soon comes back with a plate of her own. She sits in the booth seat on the other side of the table. She keeps her gaze down and messes with her hands. I arch an eyebrow in curiosity. "Something wrong?" I ask firmly. "You can sleep in your own bed. You shouldn't have to sleep down here." She answers. I can feel her guilt from here. "That's very kind of you but it's quite alright. I'd prefer that you sleep upstairs. That way, I won't have to worry about anyone messing with ya once the bar opens."

Y/N pauses for a moment, eating the food off her plate. I soon take a bite of mine. It seems as if the conversation ended there. Then, she spoke again.

"Thank you. For saving me, I mean."
.
"Anyone would've done it."
.
"Mm.. I don't know about that. Most people want me dead right now."

I slide my plate to the side. "With all due respect Miss Y/N- You stood up for something that isn't natural. Of course they wouldn't like hearing that." Y/N turns her head and mumbles in disappointment, "It isn't unnatural to me." Once again, there's a long silence between us. Except this time, she's hardly touching her food at all. I messed up.

'C'mon. Say something, Grillby. The woman shouldn't feel like she's the only one in the world.'

"How long have you known? About um.. Your soulmate." Y/N's (e/c) eyes soon lift up and stare into mine. She looks stunned that I asked.

'No one's ever shown interest willingly before, have they?'

It's been a secret that she's hidden for so long. I thought she would at least have someone to talk to.