Sometimes people have bad days. Chanyeol gets it. It just kind of sucks when customers suddenly decide that Chanyeol is the reason for their bad day and take it out on him like angry children on a Chanyeol-shaped piñata.
He tries not to let it bother him, though. Chanyeol just smiles through his teeth and reminds himself that the customer is always right. Chanyeol's used to it, but Baekhyun is apparently not.
Chanyeol's just finished apologizing profusely to a middle-aged woman with long red nails and an overdone perm who demands that he serve the rest of the dishes quickly, muttering under her breath about the no-good teenage dropouts these days. When he hurries back from the kitchen with three plates balanced on one arm, she orders Chanyeol to remain standing in front of her until she tries the food.
She makes her distaste quite obvious by spitting out the bite of chicken and flinging the dish back into a stunned Chanyeol's hands.
Baekhyun's been listening in quietly for a while but at this, he mutters a quick apology to his customers and drops his tray unceremoniously on a counter. He sets a determined gaze on the woman and marches straight towards her.
"Ma'am," Baekhyun says so politely the woman does a double-take, "I apologize if Viva Polo is not to up to your standards. You're welcome to take yourself somewhere better. I just hope you don't speak to their employees like they're trash-it's generally looked down upon in civilized society, see."
He smiles sweetly. Chanyeol can see that Baekhyun's hands are balled into tight fists.
Snapping out of his shock, Chanyeol pulls Baekhyun aside. "What are you doing?" he hisses frantically. A good number of customers are listening in now, wide-eyed or at least putting their forks down to watch the commotion.
"Making sure you don't get stepped on, you idiot," Baekhyun snaps loudly. "You, you absolute fucking sweetheart, have no idea how to tell people no." He gestures toward the fuming woman still sitting in the booth.
She promptly snatches up her purse and storms out.
Chanyeol pulls in a deep breath. "Baekhyun, can we talk for a second?" He nods at the kitchen doors.
The doors barely close behind them before Chanyeol speaks.
"You shouldn't have done that." He runs a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Why shouldn't I?" Baekhyun challenges. "I hate when people like her take advantage of people like you."
Chanyeol doesn't have anything to say to that, so he stays quiet for a moment.
"Baekhyun, just please calm down. She's not worth it."
"That's the first correct thing you've said all day." Baekhyun grabs Chanyeol's arm to fix him with a stare like he's desperate for Chanyeol to understand. "She isn't worth it. You're too good for that."
Wide-eyed, Chanyeol pulls out of Baekhyun's grip. "I'm glad I have you around. My overprotective knight in shining armor," he tries to joke to lighten the mood.
Baekhyun scoffs at him. "Damn right you should be glad."
"It really was fine though, Baekhyun. I can save myself next time."
"Fine?!" Baekhyun stares at him like he's popped a second head. "Chanyeol, there is nothing about this situation that you could describe using the word 'fine.'"
"Well, there's you," Chanyeol says, trying to keep his voice as light as possible.
"What?"
"You said there's nothing I could describe as fine in this situation. But, uh, you're here?" Chanyeol ducks his head to hide the way he peeks to gauge Baekhyun's reaction.
"And so, your argument is invalid," Chanyeol goes on.
Baekhyun stops his constant pacing around the room to blink uncomprehendingly instead. He looks almost flustered and not nearly as fired up anymore, if Chanyeol can believe it.
