Chapter Text
Kai’Sa sighs.
This warm Sunday evening is going to be busy, that’s for sure. A lot of people are already here in the bar she works at. Last Caress is its name. She has yet to figure out what rode her boss to name it like this. Then again, knowing what her boss is like, it’s really not that surprising.
She grabs her water, which she always places neatly on her workspace practically under the counter, a spot that customer’s wouldn’t be able to reach that easy because they don’t expect it there – not that they would, anyways – then takes a few good sips of it. She puts it back and lets her hand run through her lush black hair, which is, as always, neatly tied into a ponytail and she scans he crowd. At this time of the day, families with children are mostly leaving, so she doesn’t have to worry too much about their food menu items anymore. Then there are a couple of regulars sitting at tables, chatting. Lots of random people who just happen to pass by and decided to check the place out, probably wanting to have a nice Sunday evening with a good drink or two.
And then there is this annoying group of three men, who already seem like they are trouble. Why Kai’Sa can sense it? Well, she’s worked in this business long enough to just have some sort of a sixth sense for it. They speak loudly, they gesture around wildly, not to mention they asked her to be quick with the refills on their beer, basically wanting another refill as soon as the pitcher is empty. This one guy, who seems to be the alpha of the group, said it in the most obnoxious demanding voice, which Kai’Sa just ignored, smiled and walked off.
She’s been keeping a close eye on those guys and their pitcher, trying her best to be a good bartender and waitress, but the bar is close to full and she has a lot of other customers to deal with. All while her colleague is behind the bar, preparing all the drinks and some snacks. On evenings like this one, they are helplessly understaffed, mostly because their boss is super picky with employees. They tried out some guys and girls, but they just wouldn’t fit the woman’s needs. Too shy, too bold, too flashy (whatever that’s supposed to be), too boring … the list goes on. Kai’Sa wonders how she ever lasted longer than a week, but she’s been on good terms with the boss from the start, and now she’s been working here for a good three years, along with her colleague and best friend, Akali.
Then she realizes that the pitcher of those three guys is close to being empty and she just fills up another one, then walks over to them and places it on the table. “Another pitcher for you lads.” she adds in the most lighthearted tone she could muster, which was quite convincing, actually. Her more foreign accent probably also helping
The alpha-guy eyes her from top to bottom, something Kai’Sa dislikes in general when people – especially men like him – do so. “A little quicker the next time would be great, sweetie.”
Kai’Sa fights back the urge to kick him in the balls, since he is sitting there with his legs spread apart, as if he owns this place. She just smiles and says, “Of course. Anything else I can get you?”
A smirk crawls to his lips. “Yeah, how about a pair of these,” he points towards her thighs, “on a silver platter?”
Wow, dude, I’ve heard better ones. Way better ones. Kai’Sa thinks to herself, trying not to roll her eyes at the comment. Instead, she chimes in with the laughter of the alpha-guy’s buddies, and just waves the comment off with a, “Oh, boys, it’s a little too early for those jokes, now is it?” and then walks away. She doesn’t want to stay at this table for a second longer, or so help her, she’s going to let her symbiotes go crazy on them. Instead, she ignores the comments that they make when she is walking away. Between her and her colleague, it’s Akali who is the one to have better comebacks or be just plain rude. Kai’Sa is friendly and polite. She can stand up for herself if she has to, but she prefers to keep the atmosphere relaxed.
Behind the bar, she leans against the workspace with stretched-out arms and lets out a long sigh. “Give me a break.” she mutters.
“Oh, Bokkie, you usually eat guys like those for breakfast.” Akali remarks from beside her, offering a lopsided smile.
Kai’Sa shakes her head. “I’m not in the zone tonight.”
“Right.” Akali shrugs, taking the empty pitcher out of Kai’Sa’s hands, “You just need to get laid.”
Kai’Sa groans. “Kali … ”
“It’s true!” the slightly younger and slightly smaller girl retorts.
Not even in the mood to bicker with her friend, Kai’Sa just sighs again. “You’re probably right.” She then takes a deep breath and continues to work, running around the place and picking up empty glasses and taking new orders.
On her way back to the bar, she hears mister-obnoxious-alpha-guy calling out, “Miss!?”
She turns her head to look at him, and he just holds up another empty pitcher. She nods, acknowledging that she saw him and takes notice, before finishing her way back to the bar, reading the drink orders to her colleague, who already prepared the pitcher for her, having witnessed the guy waving around the empty glass as well.
“You’re an angel.” Kai’Sa says as a thank you.
Akali grins widely. “I prefer ninja.”
Amused at her friend, Kai’Sa smiles, takes the pitcher and serves it to mister-obnoxious and his two appendages.
“You really gotta work harder, sweetie, if you don’t want a complaint.” alpha-guy says.
Kai’Sa takes an unnoticeable deep breath, and replies, “My apologies, but we do have a full house.”
“I can see past it, though, if you take me up on the offer I made earlier. You know, you and me, a quick number in the bathroom. It’ll be fun.” he offers with no shame whatsoever, ignoring what she said. And he was not quiet either, since a few heads from neighboring tables turned his way.
It was, in fact, so blunt that Kai’Sa was taken aback for a moment. It’s been a while since she’s had such a bold and stupid offer. She can feel her symbiote crawling up her spine, but she still keeps her composure and declines as politely as she can muster, “No, thank you. I’d rather stick to refilling your pitchers.”
Visibly annoyed by the rejection, but keeping his shit eating grin up, he says, “In that case, I will have to ask to speak to your manager.”
Kai’Sa, also smiling again, replies with a simple, “She will be right here.” and walks away from him.
When she returns to the bar, even Akali looks at her wide-eyed. “Dude, what is his problem?”
“Didn’t you hear? He wants to have sex with me, and I declined. I’ll go get Eve.” Kai’Sa replies, not smiling anymore but visibly pissed.
This statement, though, makes Akali grin again, and she says, “Oh, sweet! She’s in a good mood today. You can thank me later.” then wiggles with her eyebrows.
Despite being angry, Kai’Sa just has to snort at her friend’s remark. She knows it’s Akali’s way of cheering her up. Even though she is not interested in her colleague’s and boss’s sex-life. “Gross, Akali, I didn’t need to know that.”
Kai’Sa walks through the door that leads to a room in the back of the bar, which is where their boss and manager, Evelynn, usually stays in. Currently she is sitting at her desk, one leg thrown over the other, looking through what seems like a moderate pile of papers. And she looks incredibly graceful while doing so. Everything about this woman is, actually, very intriguing.
“Eve?”
Evelynn looks up from her paperwork. Her golden eyes boring into Kai’Sa as they always do. It was something she found incredibly uncomfortable in the first time she was working for her. The way the woman looks at you just feels like she is completely invading your personal space, without even being physically close. It’s probably a side effect of Evelynn being a demon. Maybe she does it intentionally.
“Kai’Sa, darling, I can literally taste your anger.” Evelynn remarks in her silky voice. “Is everything alright?”
Yes, Evelynn is a demon. And yes, Evelynn thrives on people’s agony and pain. But she is the most protective of Kai’Sa and Akali. If anybody gives these two a hard time, Evelynn will be there for them and defend them with everything she has.
“There’s a guy who wants to ‘speak to the manager’.” Kai’Sa tells her, making air quotes with her fingers. “Table five.”
Evelynn chuckles. “Oh, Bokkie, whatever did you and your sweet soul do? Usually it’s Akali who gets into trouble.” she asks, not in an accusing tone though.
Kai’Sa gets more annoyed again when thinking about the alpha-guy. “I didn’t offer him my vagina along with the drinks.”
Now that statement actually makes Evelynn laugh out loud. Kai’Sa is usually not this blunt, but she is clearly angry. Evelynn puts a hand to the younger woman’s shoulder in a comforting manner. “I’ll handle him, darling. Take a few … and maybe a deep breath, you’re so worked up.”
“Bar’s too busy for a break, but thanks, boss.” Kai’Sa lamely replies, but appreciates her boss’s friendly offer.
Evelynn nods. “Anything else I should know about him?”
Kai’Sa shakes her head. “No.”
They walk back outside, into the actual bar area. It is still packed and Kai’Sa immediately goes back to preparing a few drinks and feeling guilty to having left Akali alone in the room for the few minutes she talked to her boss.
“Any more problems?” Kai’Sa asks.
Akali just shakes her head. “It’s just crowded, Bokkie. Nothing we haven’t handled before. But please get those to table seven.” The motions towards a tray that has a couple of drinks neatly arranged on it.
“On it.” Kai’Sa replies and skillfully lifts the tray up. On her way to the table she overhears the conversation her boss has with alpha-guy.
“You … are the manager?” alpha-guy asks, sounding surprised. Granted, Evelynn does look more like a super-model. Rumor has it she used to be one but is just having a phase in which she doesn’t want to be in the limelight for a change.
Evelynn casually stems a hand into her hip, and replies, “That’s right. Now what did you want to talk to me about?”
He clears his throat under her intense look. A similar look that Kai’Sa once had a hard time withstanding. Just that it’s probably not a playful one. “Well, uhm … your employee here, she is not keeping up with her orders. At all.”
Evelynn shortly looks at Kai’Sa, who is very obviously working her butt off as she always is, then looks back at him. “Interesting, to me it looks like she is keeping up quite well.”
“She’s had us waiting for our pitchers for a long time.” the man continues. “And she was rather rude when I politely pointed it out.”
Evelynn crosses her arms and raises a perfectly trimmed eyebrow. “Sir, we do have a lot of customers tonight. Clearly you noticed that as well. And, out of my two loyal and long-serving employees, Kai’Sa is the sweet soul of them.”
But, of course, that wouldn’t be it from him. “Well maybe you should pay more attention to your employees, ma’am. We didn’t get our drinks on time and she was rude. And instead of offering some sort of compensation you defend her?”
“Of course I defend her. I know my employees well, and when she had you waiting a little longer than you think you deserved, then I guess you just weren’t worth her impeccable timing.” Evelynn throws back, her voice still casual.
“Excuse me?” alpha-guy now raises his voice.
“You heard me. Now, as a compensation I can have Akali serve you instead. But be warned, she is not as well-behaved as my sweet Kai’Sa. Or I can call the police and we can all talk about the sexual harassment she had to endure from you. And I wouldn’t recommend this option, I am quite good friends with the head of the neighborhood police.” Evelynn tells him. Her voice hasn’t changed but her look sure has. A perk of being a demon, this intense look she can give that can make people visibly shudder.
“What? Who … ? I was just joking!” he defends himself.
“You wanted her to compensate a mistake she didn’t make with sex, dear. Should I call the police?” Evelynn asks, pulling her phone from her pocket. Another perk of being a demon, she can read minds. Even though she doesn’t usually use it on people dear to her, she did it this time just for Kai’Sa’s sake.
He finally seems to get a hint. “N-no, ma’am, it won’t be necessary. We’ll be leaving. But don’t think I won’t leave a bad review for the horrible service.” he throws back slightly unsure but angry at the end. He throws some money on the table, motions his two companions to move and starts leaving, muttering some profanities on his way.
Evelynn stays still and makes sure that he leaves, her arms still crossed. When Kai’Sa moves past her, she puts an arm around the barmaid’s shoulders, walking her towards the bar.
“Thank you, Eve.” Kai’Sa says in a small voice.
“Bokkie, darling, you handled worse than these three clowns. Are you sure you’re alright?” Evelynn asks, now actually sounding a little concerned.
“Just having a day, nothing to worry about.” Kai’Sa replies, even offering a smile.
Evelynn chuckles again and retreats her arm from the younger woman’s shoulders. Then she says, as nonchalantly as Akali did earlier, “You need to get laid.”
“Sure, boss.” the barmaid replies sarcastically and she hears her colleague snickering next to her. “You two are insufferable.”
“Are we wrong?” Evelynn asks, a playful smirk now also gracing her lips.
Kai’Sa takes a short breath, then drops her head in defeat. “No.”
“Maybe we should set you up, then?” the older woman with the platinum colored hair suggests.
“Oh, no! No set-ups again, Eve! I’m good on my own.” Kai’Sa quickly intervenes, head shooting back up quickly. Like she would endure another setup from these two, especially from Evelynn.
The demoness crosses her arms. “Aren’t you being a little ungrateful, darling?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the trouble you went through to organize this blind date. But, Eve … that woman was kinda frightening. You have to admit that yourself.” Kai’Sa replies.
Evelynn shrugs. “So, she was a little kinky.”
“A little kinky?” Kai’Sa tries to yell quietly but with meaning, “She was a dominatrix! I’m not into that stuff! And she was a demon as well, that’s what made it pretty scary.”
“N’aww, Bokkie, it’s not all that bad.” Akali throws in with a proud grin on her lips. “You could have given it a try.”
Kai’Sa quickly retorts, “Not helping, Kali.” Also, she tries to just scratch the mental images of her best friend and her boss doing those practices out of her head quickly before they can manifest themselves for longer than she wants them to.
“I remember her being a rather nice lady.” the demoness replies, clearly not wanting give up on the argument yet.
“She was very polite and friendly after I explained to her that our sexual preferences are not even close to the same and this was a huge misunderstanding. No more set-ups, Eve.” Kai’Sa calmly replies, her tone rather demanding though. “Now, can I please just get back to work?”
“As you wish, darling.” Evelynn replies completely nonchalantly. Kai’Sa is right, work won’t wait. They can always discuss this topic later or another time. “Akali, dear, help Kai’Sa out in the service? I will work the bar for a little bit. It is very full tonight.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Akali replies, even saluting comically. Which makes Evelynn amusedly roll her eyes at her younger lover.
And so, Kai’Sa and Akali continue working a busy evening and night, with the rare situation of their boss helping them out. The shift was just a regular shift for Kai’Sa after all. With those men gone, she even started to enjoy the night again. Maybe her colleague and her boss were right, though. Maybe she did need someone in her life, and not just for one night. Or maybe, just maybe, she should just have fun. But who knows, the future can bring anything.
Or anyone.