On the House

Chapter One

 "Are you guys serious?"

The two waiters spun around to see their colleague watching them.

"What, do you want in on this?"

"Yeah, c'mon, Yoongi, how much longer do you think he'll wait?"

Yoongi swiped the notepad out of one of their hands. "Give the poor guy a break. He's obviously been stood up."

"Give that back," his friend insisted. "It's not like he knows we're placing bets on him!"

Yoongi rolled his eyes as he eventually handed the notepad back. "You're so immature, Jungkook. How'd he rope you into this one, Jimin?"

Jimin shrugged. "Work's been slow and boring tonight."

Yoongi shook his head. "Well, I'm gonna do something nice for the guy."

"Are you gonna go be his date?" Jimin snorted at Jungkook's suggestion.

"No, I'm gonna give him your girlfriend's phone number."

Jungkook laughed until he looked up at Yoongi, who was scrolling through his phone.

"You're not actually – "

Yoongi smirked. "She certainly deserves to be with someone else, you child."

"We're just having fun, Yoongi," Jungkook pouted. "Like you've never done this sort of stupid stuff at work before."

"Don't you have some orders to take out?"

Jungkook glanced over his shoulder and sighed at the food waiting to be taken to its table. "Let me know if anyone else wants to bet, Jimin," he said as he took off to grab a tray.

Jimin chuckled. "So, what kind of nice thing are you going to do?"

"I'd give the poor guy a whole bottle of wine if I could, but I'll have to settle for one glass."

"Wait, your complimentary drink of the night?"

"Yeah," Yoongi said. "Why not?" He shrugged as he turned toward the bar. "Seems like he needs it more than me."

-

"Here you are, sir." Yoongi sat the glass of wine in front of his only customer at that moment. The man looked up at him and sighed.

"Am I that pathetic? Now I'm getting pity drinks from the waiter?"

Yoongi chuckled. "You're not pathetic. I just thought you might need a little something to boost your spirits."

"This isn't going to make that happen," the man replied, lifting the glass. "But thank you nonetheless." He took a long sip of the wine, then sighed again.

"I really thought he liked me," the customer said, sounding only slightly sad. "Obviously he didn't, and that's fine. But did he have to embarrass me like this?"

"It happens more often than you'd think," Yoongi said honestly. "It sucks, I know. But it's not like you're the only one that's ever gone through it."

The man looked like he wanted to smile at that, but couldn't quite bring himself to. "Not sure if that makes me feel better, but thanks."

Yoongi shrugged. "If you need anything, let me know. You're my last table, so I'll be available."

"I should get going, then," the man replied. "Leave you to do your job in peace and let you get out of here."

"Oh, you're not bothering me," Yoongi said. "We've got closing duties and dishes to do, and as long as I still have a table, I don't have to do them. So, please, stay as long as you'd like!"

The man chuckled dryly as he looked back down into the wine. "I'll stay until I'm done with this, then, I suppose."

Yoongi nodded with a smile. "Don't worry about paying," Yoongi said. "You only had one drink before this one. I'll comp it."

The customer choked on the wine. "No, no," he said. "I can't ask you – "

"You didn't," said Yoongi, with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it." He gave the man one more friendly smile before walking away.

An hour later, Yoongi was heading out the door when Jimin caught up to him.

"You heading home?" Jimin asked him.

"Yeah, I suppose so," Yoongi said. "I'm exhausted."

"Kook owes me a drink," Jimin said with sly smile. "Why don't you join us?"

"What, did you win the bet or something?"

Jimin's smile widened. "Maybe..."

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "You guys are terrible."

Jimin laughed. "C'mon, it's all in good fun! Anyway, come with us! You never hang out anymore."

"Aren't you guys ever just tired after work?"

"Apparently not as much as you, old man."

Yoongi scowled. "Fine. I'll just have one drink."

Jimin grinned. "Sure."