Joji One Shots

The Bartender

I close my laptop and rub my face, sighing in exhaustion. Another full day of Zoom classes come and gone. I tell you, it's criminal how much I need to pay just to sit at home for a whole semester.

Swinging my feet out of the bed, I grumble as I shuffle to the kitchen to make myself some mid-day cereal. Cooking takes a lot of effort,  and I'm honestly not that good at it. Also, cereal is criminally underappreciated. Shit slaps.

I get a notification from an app for my favorite bar: "Don't forget to stop by for your Free Friday beer! Thanks for being a valued customer!"

I pull my fist in with excitement. "Yessss, Friday!"

Without hesitating for another second I rush to the shower, throw on a simple bar outfit and grab my phone with my bag before flying out of my apartment door.

_______________At the Bar_______________

I shove myself onto a bar stool and stare at the temporarily empty bar.

Is he late today? Or maybe he's on break... I thought to myself.

I've been going to this bar since I was old enough to drink. Now that I think about it, I don't go to any other bar. Why not? I don't really know... Maybe it's just the vibe... the old scuffed wooden floors, the antique-looking pool table, the broody, gritty atmosphere. Maybe the quality of the drinks? Or maybe it's that bartender I've been seeing...

Just as my thought was completed, out he came, reluctantly and as expected. His short, ink-black hair, slightly tousled, glistened even in the dim light the bar produced. Eyes glaring blankly at what little patrons were there, he knew what time it was, what day, and why they were all here. Lips pursing to suck his teeth until his gaze fell on me, he retracted the movement and nodded.

"(Y/N)." He greeted, bluntly.

My heart felt like paper in the wind. "Joji! Can't believe you're still working here."

He grunted. "Can't either. Usual?"

"Yes please!"

He slid me my free beer with a shot of bourbon, just before the hoarde of usual prospects came flooded into the gloomy establishment for their free beers.

I turned to a tap on my shoulder. "The bourbon's on me this time, stay hush about it."

I nodded, downing it after hearing on me, "Out of sight, out of mind."

"Atta girl!" He said rather enthusiastically before pumping out  free beers to the disheveled patrons.

_____________2 Hours Later______________

3 beers and 1 shot of bourbon later, I'm feeling a little buzzed. Here I am, relocated from the bar to my favorite table, the one with the creaky chair and the nice amount of grit to where no guys can come up and hit on me but I have a good view of the bar and the tv. I'm contemplating asking for another bourbon shot when a fight unfolds by the pool table. Joji is glaring at the offenders in question, I know for a fact he doesn't want to get involved but he also has been working here so long that he can't lose this job. I'd hate for him to lose it too, so despite the fact that I don't really like to get involved in these types of things, maybe the slight buzz will help me out, at least confidence-wise.

The chair creaks as I get up to confront the two knuckleheads and I open my mouth to calm them down, but before I know it, a glass goes flying and collides with the left side of my face. Shrieking in agony I clutch my face, shaking my head to get off any excess glass, and I could swear some got into my ear canal.

When I get the chance to look up, which couldn't have been less than 45 seconds, both of the fighters are on the floor, and Joji is cracking his knuckles.