Hello Mr Heartache; I've been expecting you
Come in and wear your welcome out, the way you always do
Never say if you're here to stay or only passing through
So hello Mr Heartache; I've been expecting you
When I don't feel like company, you make yourself at home
Even though you know I'd rather be alone
Love walked out on me and even as I'm closing the door
Next thing I know I'm staring at your shadow on the floor
Fai was cleaning up the tables in the little truck stop diner he worked at. It was staffed minimally, so he was one of only six servers that worked there , and since it ran twenty-four hours a day, every now and again, one would do double shifts or cover their shift partner if one needed time off, or cover for another until back up arrived. Being stationed to the graveyard shift, it varied quite frequently if it was busy as all get out or deader than a doornail.
Fai had a certain regular of his own, a brute sized man, dark-skinned, dark-haired, keen-eyed, (he preferred the booth furthest in the corner, so he could peek out the window; he ordered water light on the ice, and coffee or green tea, no creamer or sugar; coffee meant he wanted him to come over repeatedly and tea meant he wanted to talk, he liked his steak medium well, his vegetables steamed and his cinnamon rolls fresh and soft) and he seemed to enjoy prying into Fai's personal life(and crappy love life) and was a huge cynic of Fai's life choices. Second only to Fai himself.
Fai hoped not to see him tonight; although it was pretty dead tonight (some nights, there was just cleaning to do because none came), he could use a break, and although he appreciated the other's tips, he did not wish to see him tonight, but when had fate ever been kind? He told the other shift worker she could take the night off if she wanted (the lady was six months pregnant and still worked like an eager beaver); tonight was one of those nights that Fai did not mind having no extra help. She did, having felt some kind of sickness (baby related she said, not that he had to worry about catching what she had) and appreciated it.
Fai sighed as the last table was cleaned for the third time that night, all the containers were filled, table arrangements set just so, carpet vacuumed, counters polished, undersides degummed and windows shined. Looking at the clock, he still had a few hours to go, before the day shift waitress and waiter arrived, he had no customers to tend to, and the place was as sparkly clean as it ever got; he supposed he could get on his hands and knees and polish the tile floor to keep busy, but he was tired and just wanted to rest after the other day, and that's about when the small chime of the door's bell caught his attention. Fai's eyes quickly darted over to the doorway, where to some relief and disrelief, he saw who he hoped wouldn't show. As they say, speak of the devil and he shall arrive.
Ducking lightly under the doorway stood Kurogane. Fai let out a breath, before pulling out his customer smile, and went over to greet the taller man. Not that Fai was short, but Kurogane was just ridiculously tall. "Welcome back; your favorite booth is available. Would you like tea or coffee tonight?" chirped Fai.
Kurogane took a moment, to respond with, "Sure seems dead tonight."
Fai still smiled, "You're the first person to say that tonight."
Kurogane grunted an "I see" before replying, "Coffee, if you have the real stuff."
"Not made, but I could brew you a fresh pot if you want."
"Tea then."
Fai made the faintest of nods, "Make yourself comfortable. It'll be just a minute."
Fai moved towards the back and grabbed a kettle, filling it up with the preheated hot water. After the kettle was filled, he grabbed the tea bags (bitter green, three bags for Kurogane's pot) and the teacup, and placed them on the diner tray. He also filled a water cup up with a hint of ice and the purified water and placed it with the kettle, bags and teacup. There was no need (it was just Kurogane) but the rules won out, and he brought them over with typical grace. He could feel the aches of his muscles, but he had to ignore them. If Kurogane, with his keen eyes, noticed him dragging, he'd bring it up for sure. The man was cruel like that. Why Fai did not particularly like his regular, even if he was one of the better tippers. Man couldn't leave well (well fucked up) enough alone.
Kurogane settled into his booth, and took a moment to shift the lacy curtain and glance out the window. He could see the parking lot (that patch of grass held some interest), his truck and the doorway out the window, and he could watch most of the truck stop from his position.
Setting down the things, Fai tucked the tray under his arm, and asked in that same polite voice, "The usual?"
Kurogane turned to regard Fai, pausing a moment, before he nodded, "Yeah, sounds good."
"Alright; it'll be just a few minutes." Fai walked off, not bothering to write down the order just yet.
Fai walked away to put in the familiar order. Kurogane watched Fai until his figure disappeared behind a white wall, before he opened the bags of tea and placed them in the kettle. After, his gaze drifted self-consciously towards the window. He stared outside a little bit while his tea steeped, until the small patter of footsteps alerted him of Fai's return. His gaze shifted from the outside to Fai, letting the white curtain fall to its resting place. Kurogane pulled out the teabags from the steeped water, squeezing out most of the flavored water from within. Fai set Kurogane's food down, and smiled politely. "Anything else you will be needing right now, Kurogane?" Fai asked in his charming voice.
"Not right now. Wanna sit down for a bit? You don't have any others to tend to right now."
Fai shrugged his shoulders, "Sure. Why not?"
Fai settled onto the edge of the seat across from Kurogane.
Kurogane poured himself a cup of tea, and watched the steam rise a moment, before turning his gaze onto the blonde, who seemed a tad shut off, but still in that friendly façade way. He could see the small dark circles beneath the other's eyes, shoulders a little too tensed up, and his gaze focused elsewhere. His ears were perked, as if listening for the small chime of the door to know he had to get up and take care of a customer. Perhaps he would prefer that than to sit here, well-aware that Kurogane could see through him.
"So; get loved and left behinnd lately?" Kurogane asked bluntly, before taking a small sip of his tea.
Fai made a melodramatic shrug, "What if I did? Not like you do anything to stop it."
No, if anything, I'm the cause of it, Kurogane thought to himself, as he took a bite of his steak. He knew, more than he had to ask. He knew all about Fai's failed love life, about everyone's love life, especially when it turned to hurt, but that information was meant to be privy. However, unlike the others, Fai was, he just stood out from the others, and in a way, Kurogane wanted him for himself, but he didn't want the other hurt because of him. As a result, he hurt him and he came here. Perhaps to make amends. Some days, he really didn't know. Maybe it would be better for Fai if he stopped coming; he could settle down without the constant problems of living with a broken heart. Fate was not the kindest; all he wanted was to protect those close to him and it ends up if he gets close to anyone, they usually got hurt. After all, even his mother had died of a broken heart.
"What about you? Where are you off to with your truck?" Fai asked to get off his own personal life for a while.
"There's some coolant fluid for the elementary schools."
"After that? Where next?"
"Dunno. Unless work has another delivery, might head home."
Fai had never heard Kurogane mention his home before, and he tilted his head. If Kurogane could delve, then he could do a little digging too, he reasoned. "You never mention your home. What's it like?"
Kurogane paused a minute, as he thought about what to say. "Big…empty. Unattended. It used to be real nice, but I haven't been there in a few years."
"Why not? It's your home right?"
"Because… what made it feel like home is not there anymore."
Fai stopped asking questions. He was now curious, but just because the other had caught his attention, it was Kurogane, after all. He settled back, and let Kurogane eat in silence, getting up to refill his water twice during the meal. Fai brought over the pitcher, filling it up before returning it to the back. And as no other customers were there, he rejoined Kurogane back at his table, resting his back against the cushioned back of the booth.
"You're exhausted." Again, Kurogane's keenness never failed him.
"Perhaps," Fai let out a bitter laugh, before deciding he really didn't care anymore if this guy was too keen-eyed, and deposited his back onto the seat of the booth, with some exaggerance in his falling himself down. "…maybe I'm just tired."
"From what?" implored Kurogane.
"From…everything." Fai pressed an arm against his forehead, "I'm just … tired. Of it all. Tired of working a dead end job, of making minimum wage only to work twice as many hours as I get paid for. Tired of my drafty apartment that maintenance never fixes, that leaks every time the weather gets cooler. Tired of relying on tips so I can eat, because income barely pays the rent. Tired of finding people acting interested, only to lead me astray, and leave me. Tired of the one-night stands. Tired of charading and smiling and telling everyone that I'm doing just great and act all cheery, even when I feel like shit. Tired of everything. Some days, even existing becomes too tiring. If I t'were crossing the road and a car was zooming towards me and couldn't stop, I'm not sure I would get out of the way."
"Why would you say something stupid like that? Of course you'd get out of the way. It's only natural."
Fai sat back up, turned to face Kurogane with a smile. A sad caustic smile. "You really think so?"
Kurogane stared into those blue eyes, could see everything Fai said was true, could see further, further than he'd ever pried into before. He let out a small snort, "Look just cause Life's an annoying stuck up bitch don't mean she's all bad either. Sure she isn't always the easiest, but she definitely has her good side too. But Death is a real fucking creep. Sadistic pedophilic jerk; I don't know why you would want anything to do with someone like him."
Fai was so caught off by Kurogane's words, he broke out into a weak burst of laughter, and smiled, a genuine smile for the first time in a while. "The way you talk, it's like you know these concepts as persons and know them personally."
This time, it was Kurogane's turn to reel. He'd slipped up. Noticing the sudden change, Fai looked at Kurogane amusement turning to confusion at his reaction, and decided to try and pry into Kurogane's turf, seeing as he did it so often to his own. "Waita… If that's so, that means you know them … and if you know them … then might you … also be a person that is also a concept…?" Fai risked saying. It sounded ridiculous even as he asked, but the reaction Kurogane responded with was uncharacteristic for just a mix-up of real people and the concept of life and death.
Kurogane looked down as he heard Fai begin to ask, "Is that…?"
"Yeah," Kurogane finished for Fai.
Fai stared dumbly, mutely, and Kurogane glanced up noticing Fai hadn't said, done anything; the pause seemed unusual for Fai, and he waved a hand in front of his face, but Fai was … Kurogane turned to the doorway, where a certain light-skinned male was standing, leaning against the doorframe.
"Tsk, tsk, Heartache… the object of your affection suffers because of you and you cannot keep your lips shut. Maybe next time will result in banning you from being with him permanently."
"Next time?" Kurogane treaded to ask.
"A simple stop and mind sweep this time, but you will have to make things right, or it won't be long till your pal Sei-chan gets to your lover."
"Like hell I'll hand Fai over to that fucked up pervert…!"
"Take care of this then." Yue then left the diner and Kurogane turned his attention back to the blonde. Fai, who looked a bit spacey before coming back to his senses, a bit disoriented, "I'm sorry … I seem to have spaced off. You were saying?"
Kurogane bit his lower lip for a moment, "What's the last thing you remember?"
"You said it was only natural."
Kurogane had a silent reprieve. It was just the last minute deleted, before he turned his facial features to one of concern, "Are you sure you're alright? You don't usually space out like that."
Fai blinked before smiling, "I'm sure I'm alright. Would you like some more water?" Fai said getting up.
"No… thank you," Kurogane said, doing quick thinking, "I'd like that cinnamon roll now. To go. And the bill."
"Right," Fai said, picking up Kurogane's finished things before placing the usual bill on the table. Kurogane dug out his work expense card, as he looked at the bill. As usual, the numbers rang up to be what he expected. As usual, Fai had the bill already readied before he even ordered his roll. Fai remembered; he always did, easy when the order never changed. Fai walked to the back to ask for the cinnamon roll, placing the sticky dessert into a clear to-go box for the other. He brought it out, and set it on the table for him, taking the man's card to ring up the total, "The usual?" he asked.
"Yeah, same as always," Kurogane responded. He'd always tipped Fai equal to his bill. However, tonight, that wouldn't be enough. When Fai brought his card back, he brought the receipt and a pen to sign with, gathered up Kurogane's dishes and walked away briefly. Kurogane watched for a moment before taking out his wallet, putting his card away, and pulling out a smaller paper card, using the pen to scribble on it and placing some cash with it. He placed both under the roll, signed the merchant receipt and walked out to his truck.
When Fai came back, he let out a sigh, seeing the cinnamon roll just sitting there. He picked it up, about to throw it out with regret (company policy) when he noticed what was tucked underneath it, and his eyes widened in alarm. He grabbed the roll and the buried contents before dashing out after the other.
Kurogane had already revved his engine to life, and was about to leave, when the impression of Fai leaving the restaurant, and calling his attention showed up in his side mirror.
"…ne…! Kurogane…!" Fai called out. He rolled down his driver's side window, holding all the contents up to Kurogane.
"What is the meaning of this?! There is no way I can accept this!" Fai said standing outside Kurogane's door, his voice frantic, his face a mix of flabbergasted and downright panic-hysteria.
"Think about it, Fai," Kurogane said, accepting only his dessert, leaving Fai with the contents he had hid beneath it, "If you decide to come, I'll see you there. If not, then this will probably be the last time I will see you. So make good use of that." A brief pause, as he turned his eyes to the road ahead, "Goodbye, Fai."
Kurogane pressed his foot against the gas pedal, and drove away. Fai took a step back, coughing and waving away the small cloud of smog that arose and put his attention on the disappearing figure of the semi-truck, before he was forced to head back inside. He decided then and there that Kurogane was out of his mind and crazy. And, he quietly thought, so was he.
"Do you think this solves the real issue, Kurogane?" Yue asked, stretching out now that they were a ways away from the truck stop, and away from Fai.
"Better than the alternative, and gives me more time to figure out what to do," Kurogane grunted out to his unwelcome passenger. "And why were you waiting for me in my truck?"
"I want you to drop me off. After the favor I did you, it's the least you could do."
"…fine."
So hello Mr Heartache I've been expecting you
Come in and wear your welcome out the way you always do
Never say if you're here to stay or only passing through
So hello Mr Heartache I've been expecting you
I wish that I could say it's nice to see you back again
We're not exactly strangers but we're not exactly friends
You know you're not invited but you keep on coming around
The last thing I need is you to kick me when I'm down
So hello Mr Heartache I've been expecting you
Come in and wear your welcome out the way you always do
Never say if you're here to stay or only passing through
So hello Mr Heartache I've been expecting you
I've been expecting you; I've been expecting you.