Mr. Krabs x Jolene

The Spark

Eugene Krabs, proud owner of the Krusty Krab, was closing up shop. It felt like almost any other day of making tons of money, Plankton attempting to steal the Secret Formular, and Spongebob using dumb luck to thwart his plans. This, however, was the problem.

It felt like every other day.

Eugene felt an emptiness, even with all of his money. The weeks, months, and eventual years, went by, but he never felt a change. He longed for something more, something to spark a sort of joy inside him. And that's when he saw her.

"Um, hello?" A meek voice spoke.

"Yes, how may I help you, ma'am?" Krabs answered, almost too busy counting his money.
However, something in him stirred, as he realized that the voice was indeed one familiar to him. His eyes darted up from his fat stack of money.

Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

"I know it's a little late," she continued, "but the sign says you're still open, and I'm starving. I promise I won't be too long."

Normally, food service and retail workers hate the person that waltzes into the establishment ten minutes before closing, but Eugene wasn't any manager. Business is business. She wasn't just any other stranger, either.

"But of course, Jolene! Anything for me Pearl's favorite cosmetics teacher. What can I get ya?" He said, as he scuttled towards her with a notebook and pen.

He hasn't taken someone's order personally for many years. His staff ran a dichotomy of chaos and competence, so most patrons were satisfied with the service. This, however, was as personal as he's been with a patron in a long while.

After Eugene took Jolene's order, he hurried over to the kitchen to grill up a Krabby Patty. He hasn't cooked this order in months. Was he rusty? No, he couldn't bare giving such a lovely lady a half-decent burger. She deserved better than that.

As Eugene concentrated on perfectly creating his Krabby Patty, he slowly forgot why he had been closing up shop so early in the first place...