Seoul Kitchen: Chapter 40

The Tale of Two Shorties

Kali Belladona, mother to a single daughter, owner of the famous Lu Ri, and as it turns out, half the Cherry Blossom as well. If he wanted to own the rest of the Market, he had to talk to her and unlike the Tyger Claws, he didn't have to wait. After his meeting with the gang however, he needed some time to cool down.

Forming the patties into squares, he poked holes on them before sliding them atop the onions filling the grill. With the onions cooking in the tallow of the beef, the patties were steamed with flavor. He wanted something bite sized and easy to make and sliders seemed like the perfect choice.

As he layered the cheese and the bun atop, he felt his worries melt away. Cooking has always been therapeutic. The rhythm and routine of preparing a meal helped ease his mind with reality as it was here in the kitchen that he had full control. There were no unaccounted variables, no surprises, just him, the grill and his ingredients.

"Welp, that could have gone much worse," Rebecca muttered as she slumped over the counter. With the meeting over, the rest of the crew were off doing their own thing. He felt silly having called them over, but he could never be too cautious especially dealing with the Tyger Claws.

"Yeah," He nodded before he grimaced. They had expected the whole of the market for what they offered, but they only got half. "At least we now have half the lease," He replied. It was far better than nothing.

Burying her face on the table, Rebecca groaned, "Kinda wish we don't have to throw in our lot with the Tyger Claws though." For better or for worse, they were now tied to the Tyger Claws. Sighing, she looked away before she pointed out, "But even if we knew about Kali and made a deal with her first, we'd still have to deal with them."

"At least now we don't have to worry about them," He replied as he started flipping the burgers before wrapping them up. Thankfully, they didn't have any promises to fulfill, just that they were going to sell to the Tyger Claws. He can continue with his current path, just that he was going to expect a call from them one of these days.

"Still doesn't make this any less frustrating," She grumbled as she straightened back up. Scratching her head in frustration, she shouted, "Damn it, I wish we didn't have to rely on them so much!"

He nodded back as he frowned. He couldn't have agreed with Rebecca more. He got a lot out of the deal. Half the market, their resources, and backing, but that meant influence on him. He might scare away a few people if he's a bit too invested with the Tyger Claws.

The only reason he even got into this deal was because he wanted the Market, but he didn't get that. Having them as his only backer was less than desirable so he had to branch out, but that was easier said than done. He hasn't made enough connections yet, but that doesn't mean he didn't have options.

"If we want to have an independent Kitchen, I think we need to talk to Kali," He told his output. Maybe, just maybe, if he could get the rest of the market, he has other options for funds. Less than desirable, but that means the Tygers couldn't just cut off his resources and starve him out if they want things done.

As Rebecca was about to reply, his eyes caught a familiar red shape beside his output. "What's this about the Kitchen?" An all too familiar voice asked, making Rebecca jump back in surprise. There, sitting on one of the seats, was Eve, sporting the same old bored frown she had.

"Gah!" Rebecca shouted as pulled out her pistol and pointed it at Red's forehead. "What the fuck is wrong with you!" She screeched, eyes twitching as she pressed her weapon closer. He was about to step in until he noticed how nonchalant and unfazed Red was.

Ignoring Rebecca, the tiny brunette leaned up from her seat and peered down the counter where the burgers were currently resting. "Also, are those Sliders?" She asked as her eyes glinted with hunger, making Chef smile in amusement.

"Oh hey Red. I see you're still up to your shenanigans," He chuckled as he offered one of the wrapped sliders for her. They were supposed to be for Pilar, but he could always make more. "And yup, complete with itty bitty grilled onions that explode in your mouth like flavor crystal everytime you bite into one," He added as the girl eagerly unwrapped her meal by biting down on the wrapper.

Without missing a bit, the girl bit down on the buns before she closed her eyes. For an expressionless girl, her actions spoke much for her… or maybe that was just him getting used to her. Eitherway, it was adorable. The girl must really miss her home.

Looking up at him, she gestured at the lot before she asked, "How much."

"Wait, wait, wait," Rebecca butted in, gun still resting on the side of Red's head. "You can't just slide and ask for an order. Didn't you see the sign?" She pointed out. They weren't supposed to be open, but Red does have her habits.

Slowly turning to meet Rebecca's gaze, Red replied, "I can and I will."

Rebecca however was one to take challenges, as her finger slid down the trigger. "You sure you wanna test your luck?" She asked as the hammer slowly cocked back, her fingers just a twitch away from pulling the trigger.

"I could say the same," Red replied coldly, making Rebecca frown. Confused as well, I looked around to see if she brought any backup, before I followed Rebecca's gaze. Down below Red's waist a gun pressed up against Rebecca's crotch.

"God damn it," He whispered as he backed away from this. He wasn't dumb enough to get in between them and these two needed to get this out of their system. As he prepared the two a nice cold shake, he asked, "So, you two want chocolate, caramel or strawberry syrup?"

The two turned towards him before looking back at each other and nodded. "Truce?" Rebecca asked as she lifted her finger up from the trigger.

"Yeah," Red replied and the two holstered their guns away, letting him finally breathe out a sigh of relief. At least these two could agree on something. Perhaps the two wouldn't kill each other off after all.

-x-x-x-

With a fresh batch of sliders to feast on, some fries he whipped up just for the occasion, and cold shakes to push it all down, the three ate in peace. This time around, he made sure to close down the shutters instead of leaving it half open. He really should do that more often.

As he bit down on his last slider, he saw Rebecca glaring at the other girl. Raising a brow at her, he silently asked her what's wrong to which his output grimaced. Tearing her eyes away from Red who was quietly munching away at her nineteenth slider, Rebecca asked, "Is she always like this?" Gesturing at Red, she added, "You know, annoying?"

He snorted as he swallowed the last bite before licking his lips. "She's adorable like that," He replied as he wiped his hands down on some tissue. "But she means no harm," he assured her. Red was confrontational, but that was mostly because she had no filter. She will say what she wants, when she wants it.

Rebecca frowned before sighing and shaking her head. Glancing back at the girl, she asked again, "Who the hell is she anyways? I always see her first thing in the morning, ordering bagels and coffee from you." Chef frowned at her question. He remembered that Rebecca met her before, but has he never introduced her before?
You even made her a batch that one time before she fucked off," His output reminded him. It seems that he hasn't done so yet.

Turning to the girl, he asked, "Eve?"

The tiny terror however waved him off as she unwrapped her twentieth burger before chomping down. "Busy," She replied, turning away from them as she enjoyed her meal. Where were all those burgers going? They were small but…

Shaking his head, he turned to the expectant Rebecca and introduced his wayward customer. "Eve's one of my most loyal and die hard customers," He told as he reminisced on his first true wave of customers.

"She's been there since the start. Rain or shine, she'd always be here for the bagels," He laughed before scratching his chin. "She did gave me that mixer so that's probably her recouping her investment,"

"Wait, that was you?" Rebecca replied, eyes wide in surprise.

Finishing her final burger, Red asked, "You got a problem with that?" Seeing her hands reached for one of the burgers he set aside for the crew, he swatted them in warning. The girl glared, but he stood his ground. Those were for others, not hers. Pouting, the girl looked away.

Turning to Rebecca, he watched as the girl looked at the smaller girl intently, leaning close enough that they were almost cheek to cheek. "What's your gun of choice?" She then asked as Red slowly pushed her away.

"Does it matter?" Red replied as she finally got her personal space. Looking at both of them intently, she answered, "So long as I can turn my enemies into paste and paint the town red with their blood, I will use it." He felt a shiver of fear run up his spine as the girl let out a hollow smile.

"Too big? Just the way I like it. Too strong? Good, cleaning is a pain. It's a War Crime? That just means I get to watch them suffer," She replied as she chuckled, her eyes lighting up in amusement. "Give me a gun, and I will give you slaughter," She told them as he could only stare at her in horror.

"You…" Rebecca trailed off as he stared at the girl before a smile stretched across her lips. Slinging her arms around the girl, she told her, "I like you~" Red's cheerful demeanor returned to a much more neutral and less terrifying frown as she struggled against Rebecca. "I think you and I are going to be the best of friends," Rebecca giggled as she pressed her cheeks against the girl. At least they weren't killing each other, right?

A/N:

Honestly took me longer than I wanted too. Had some difficulties getting it going, but thankfully I got something done. Going to try and get another one before moving back to commissions. Sorry.