Stupidly awesome fanfic made this stupidly adorable character and I can't get him out of my stupid head. Here's a stupid story to get my stupid mind to stop thinking about this stupidly good character.
Today was one of the busier days at the cafe. Not that Stephen minded since tips were coming in well, but it was stressful since they were short of a person. However, something happened that day. Something that made it almost seem like the apocalypse was starting.
Stephen suggested asking Jessie for help.
"Are you insane?!" whisper yelled his boss, Becky. "Jessie's perfect for a security guard, but we don't need a security guard!"
"But she has no plans today and the chefs are busy so they can't help us. I think she might listen to me."
"MIGHT is a little too risky, Dally!"
"She saved my life from Andy! Isn't that proof enough that she cares for others?"
"Say what?!"
"Jessie's ex nearly killed me a few days ago, love. If it wasn't for Jessie, I might not be alive today. Oh, and he's not coming back any time soon thanks to Jessie."
"...Fine. I'll let her work for the day and even pay her, but if anyone complains about Jessie's behavior, you pay for it. Literally."
Stephen smiled as he sent a quick text to Jessie before he continued working.
Jessie was reading a neat little story called Come To Life when a text came in blocking her vision of one of her favorite characters, Dallis.
"What the hell, Steph?" she said as she pulled up messages.
"The cafe needs help. I asked Becky if you could help since you were the first person who popped into my mind. She said she'd pay you, but you have to behave yourself, love. If you're willing to help, see you in a few minutes?"
Believe it or not, Stephen typed all that EXACTLY as you see it here in a matter of seconds. Don't ask me how fast he typed that; I don't know how fast that man types.
You better not ask me how this happened, because I don't know how it happened either, but here we are in The Sunshine Cafe with Stephen and Jessie in the cafe's color choice in uniforms.
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[Notably, Stephen is taller than Jessie while Andy is the same height as Jessie, Becky is in the middle of Jessie and Stephen while Rose is the shortest. Congrats Stephen on being the tallest.]
"I hate you, Stephen Dally."
"I love you, too Jessie Nicola."
Jessie would curse, but there's kids present and she didn't like to curse when kids were present, but that's beside the point.
Jessie walked around the cafe taking orders, serving them, and cleaning tables just as Stephen showed her. Granted, it wasn't as perfect because... heh heh... one customer managed to piss her and Stephen off. In their defense, the customer shouldn't have spanked Jessie's butt while Stephen was watching.
Well... if Stephen didn't see it, Jessie would've reacted and she could've broken his nose and killed him so maybe Stephen hitting the customer in the back of his head with the serving tray was a better result.
Either way, the day went well and Becky paid Jessie a little extra for helping last minute. Now it was dusk when The Sunshine Cafe closes and our protagonists had some free time.
"So, Steph," said Jessie as she undid Stephen's bun. She was going to show Stephen how to properly do a high bun and keep it up. "Care to explain why you bashed your tray against that guy's head? Good job with that, by the way."
"He shouldn't have spanked you, love," he said while enjoying the feeling of her hands going through his hair against his scalp. "It's as simple as that."
"Not with that look in your eyes or how quickly you reacted. You got lightning-fast reflexes, by the way."
"You're my..." Stephen wanted to say she was his friend, but he wasn't sure if she'd agree. "My neighbor... A good neighbor takes care of their neighbors when they need it, right?"
"Boy, you told Andy to piss off, talked to me more than anyone in this apartment has, and even made me do things that I wouldn't do every day."
"Why do you bring this up, love?"
"I bring this up because we're friends, doofus," she said while lightly tugging on his hair. Both sides heard Stephen make a noise, but they weren't thinking it sounded the same.
Through Jessie's ears, she thought he yelped in the little pain she caused him. She felt bad that she hurt him and even worse since she liked the sound he made.
Through Stephen's ears, he thought of it as a light moan. Not that he was happy to get the scars he has today, but he did like a little pain on his body. Just a little pain in certain places would be enough to drive him mad.
"I-I'm sorry, Stephen!"
"It's okay, love! It's okay... Honest." Things were awkwardly silent as she finished Stephen's high bun. It was still a bit messy since she liked the messy look to it, but it would stay up better than how Stephen had it. "Thanks again, love. I have a question for you, love."
"Out with it."
"How did you get your scar?"
"Oh... Well... How do I put this?"
"Is there something wrong?" he asked as he turned to face her. Much to his surprise, Jessie looked a little... judgemental.
"No... It's just that... You weren't the only one who was bullied whey they were young..."
"Who the hell bullied you? Who the fuck do I need to murder?"
"They're already dead, Steph. No need to lose your mind over it."
"Not when..."
"'Not when' what?"
Stephen placed his hand over his largest scar. That was all he had to do to make Jessie feel worse than she already did.
"Your largest scar... It's a loss scar isn't it?..."
"Yes, love... It is..."
"I'm so-" Stephen placed his hand over Jessie's mouth. She kneeled before him as she took his hand and placed it on her cheek so his thumb could brush over her scar. "Mine is a loss scare too. Maybe not the same kind of loss, but I am missing something because of this scar."
"Oh, Jessie..."
"Don't feel bad. I had it coming for sure. If you keep playing this game, you'll find out more. Deal?"
Stephen smiled as he pulled her in for a hug closing his eyes.
"Deal, my love~"
Jessie smiled as she hugged Stephen back. Looks like this game just got a little more interesting.
