Wow, it's been forever. Does anyone even remember me here xD

For those of you that don't, my name's Naila (but I go by Remy), and I used to be a regular here before real life and other fandoms intervened. I've been planning on writing something here for a long time now, but I couldn't think of anything. This here was borne of a tumblr prompt post.

So without further ado: enjoy :)

-

Mike walks into Delson's Organic Supermarket and takes a deep breath. Okay. New job. He can do this. It should be easy, right?

Right.

It's neat and organized, everything sorted into aisles, a row of refrigerators in the back. There are only four employees, at least those that he can see. One of them is sorting fruit, one is cleaning up something in Aisle 3, and the other two are arguing over something that's got one of them quite heated up.

Mike decides to think about his potential co-workers later. He goes up to the counter, where a bored-looking man with a voluminous Afro is reading a book, a dog-eared copy of Dreamcatcher. "Um, excuse me?" he tries, and the man looks up.

"Yes, how may I help you?" he asks, not putting the book down.

"Uh, there's a job vacancy," Mike says, somewhat redundantly, seeing as there's a big-ass poster on the windows. "I wanted to apply."

The man puts his book down. "Okay. What's your name?"

"Mike Shinoda."

"I'm Delson. Brad Delson. How old are you?"

"23."

Delson nods. "Okay, Mike. Why do you want this job?"

Mike takes a moment to think about it. He can't very well say Because I'm broke-ass college student and I need a job or else I'll be broke and homeless, so he just sticks with a very lame, "Um... organic produce is very important to me?"

Delson snorts. "Sure, kid," he remarks sarcastically. "What hours are okay by you?"

Mike starts; he hadn't expected Delson to say that. "Um... mornings should be fine," he says cautiously. Most of his classes are in the evening, so mornings should suit him fine.

Delson nods. "Okay. The pay is $15 an hour. That fine?"

"Yes, thanks." For a simple retail job, it's more than fine - he'd been expecting minimum wage. "When can I start?"

"Right now, if that's fine," Delson tells him. "Welcome to the team." For the first time, he offers Mike a grin. "I think you'll like it here. Wanna meet your coworkers?"

"Sure."

"BENNINGTON! ROUND THOSE IDIOTS UP AND GET IN HERE!" Delson yells, and Mike starts again. He's not sure what kind of boss Delson is going to turn out to be, but he hopes the yelling isn't a constant thing.

The guy who'd been sorting fruit yells back a "YES BOSS!" and grabs the two arguing men by the collars, dragging them to the counter. The fourth one, who's finished his clean-up, follows with a disinterested expression.

"Mike, this is Chester Bennington." Delson points at the fruit-sorter, who's skinny, tattooed and wears glasses. "Dave Farrell." Redheaded, well-built and friendly, going by the smile. "Joe Hahn." Stocky Asian with spiky hair and a somewhat disgruntled expression, perhaps at having had his argument interrupted. "Rob Bourdon." Tall, spiky hair and a goatee, somewhat shy - the one who'd been cleaning. "Guys, this is Mike Shinoda," announces Delson. "He's joining us today. Be nice to him, okay? And someone tell him the ground rules."

"Why can't you tell him the ground rules?" asks Joe.

"Because I'm a very busy man, Hahn," replies Delson with a smirk. "Also, I'm your boss, so I get to order you around."

"You're a tyrant," Joe informs Delson. "And you owe me ten dollars."

"That bet was not official," Delson refutes.

"It so was."

They both turn to Rob, who reddens a little. "Keep me out of this," he mumbles. "I haven't got time for your petty bets anyway."

"Guys," interrupts Chester, waving at Mike. "New guy, hello? We don't wanna weird him out."

"Who's weirding who out?" questions Joe. "Are we weirding you out, Mike?"

Mike shakes his head mutely, not sure what to say. This is definitely an interesting bunch.

"Okay, people, get to work," instructs Delson. "We're gonna open in half an hour, make the place look ready for customers."

"You got it, boss," says Dave brightly with a salute. He takes Mike by the elbow and leads him to the back of the store. "I'll be your guide. But first, we gotta get you a T-shirt."

Ten minutes later, Mike's wearing a bright orange T-shirt that says Delson's Organic on the front in blue letters, just like the rest of them. "Thanks," he says to Dave. "Oh, by the way - what ground rules?"

"I'm getting to that," Dave says, leading Mike to the baked products aisle. "Okay, you can look after this aisle. So here's the ground rules: one, no sex during working hours."

That makes Mike laugh, but he stops at once when he sees Dave's solemn expression. "That's an actual rule?"

"You'd be surprised," Dave answers. "We usually don't have to worry too much about it... well, unless one of Chester's girlfriends is visiting."

Mike glances over at Chester, who seems to be scribbling on fruits with a Sharpie. "Don't worry," laughs Dave. "He's not, like, a walking STD or anything. The rule's only there because Delson's caught him making out with his girlfriends many times. There hasn't been any actual sex... yet."

Mike just nods.

"Rule two, you can eat what you want from the store, but ask Delson first and pay for it. Rule three, always wash your hands. Rule four, once a week we all go out for pizza, so you have to pay in turns. Rule five, bring romcoms to movie night at least once a month. Delson loves them."

"Wait, movie night?" interjects Mike.

"Yeah, at Delson's place," Dave tells him. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, but you totally should. It's a lot of fun."

"Okay, I'll see," Mike says.

"Good, next movie night's on Friday. It's Chester's turn, he usually chooses something bloody and violent, so if you're not up for that I'll let him know."

"No, no, it's okay."

Just then, a customer comes in, and Dave gets back to work. Mike is left to man the baked products aisle and ponder his odd coworkers.

-x-

He doesn't see Chester after that. Joe tells him, a bit morosely, that Chester's only gonna be working the evening shifts from now on. He's got another job in the daytime, so he can't be there. "Which sucks," adds Joe. "He's the only one who understands my sense of humor."

Nearby, Rob snorts. "No, Joe, he's the only one crazy enough to go along with it."

"Well, whatever," says Joe. "I miss him."

"You know we'll still see him at movie nights and pizza nights, right?" questions Rob.

"Yes I know, but still."

"I miss him too," pipes in Dave. "He's funny."

"Children, please," shouts Delson from the counter. "Back to work. Chester's gonna be back soon, once he can find a better job for the evening."

That cheers Joe and Dave up some. Mike, who doesn't know Chester, says nothing, but feels like maybe he should. Chester was pretty cool with him on his first day, even though they hadn't talked much.

("Why does he need to work two jobs, anyway?" he later asks Dave.

"Oh, he's saving up money, so he can make a record," Dave tells him. "He sings really well, you know. It's always been his dream to be a rockstar.")

So when Mike finds some free time, he wanders over to the fruit aisle and finds Chester's red Sharpie. He scribbles Best of luck with your mixtape. -Mike on a Post-It note and attaches it to a cantaloupe.

-x-

He comes back the next morning to find the cantaloupe gone - someone must have bought it. Chester seems to have received his message, though - there's a Post-It stuck to an apple.

Thank you. Who told you? -C

Mike smiles for no particular reason, and sets about finding the Sharpie.

-x-

Chester comes in for his evening shift, dead tired and wanting nothing more than to collapse on a bed somewhere. Delson takes one look at him and says sympathetically, "Take a night off, kid. Get some rest. You look like hell warmed over."

"I wish, Brad, but I can't," replies Chester wearily. "You know I need the money."

"Okay, kid, but don't die during your shift," Delson says. "Actually, don't die at all. Joe's been pretty miserable that you work evenings, I don't want to imagine the fallout if he hears you've died."

Chester offers him a tired smile. "Got it, boss. No dying." He dumps his bag down behind the counter and pulls on his T-shirt. Delson watches him go to the fruit aisle, and then returns to his book.

Chester walks up and down the fruit aisle, checking if anything's out of place, or if any of the fruits are going bad. Everything's in order - and there's a note stuck to an orange.

Dave did. I hope you don't mind. I know I'm practically a stranger to you. -M

Chester takes out his Sharpie and scribbles a reply before going to deal with a customer who wants a very specific kind of grapes.

-x-

"I know what you're up to," Dave tells Mike the next morning. "You and Chester."

Mike almost drops a loaf of bread. "What?"

"You know, leaving the notes for each other." Dave waggles his eyebrows and grins. "You've only been here a couple days and you're already hitting on a coworker, eh, Mike?"

Mike flushes. "I'm not hitting on him," he mutters. "We just... communicate."

"You know we have these things called cell phones, right?" asks Dave, trying to juggle three cheese buns. "Just text him."

"I don't know him that well," argues Mike. "And please put the buns down, Delson's gonna kill me if you drop them."

"No he's not, because I'm not gonna drop them," says Dave dismissively. "Now - you don't know him well enough to text him, but you're a-okay with leaving him Post-Its stuck on fruit?"

"Well, when you put it that way..."

Dave just smirks at him. "Just remember, Mikey my man, Chester has a three-date rule."

"Shut up." Mike's blushing in earnest now.

Dave just grins wider and saunters off, still juggling the buns.

-x-

It's okay :) was just a little surprised. You enjoying the new job? -C

Mike looks around carefully and makes sure Dave isn't around, before scrawling a reply and sticking it to a cucumber.

-x-

Chester, if it's possible, looks even more exhausted that evening. "Kid, you really need to take a breather," Delson tells him gently. "You're running on fumes."

"I know, I know," sighs Chester. "Just a few more weeks, Brad. I'm almost at my goal."

"That's sure good to hear," Brad says with a smile. "But, kid, there'll be no point if you stress yourself to the point where you're sick. Take it easy."

Chester just gives him a weary smile. "Sure, Brad. And oh," he adds, his tone turning sad, "I won't be able to make it to movie night this week. Or pizza night."

"What? Why not?" exclaims Delson. Movie and pizza nights are sacred - no one's ever missed them before.

"Can't take time off from the other job," Chester tells him regretfully. "Give the others my love, yeah?"

"That's just too sad," says Delson. "Okay kid. You take care, you hear me?"

Chester nods. "Thanks, Brad," he says, and goes off to his aisle.

As expected, there's a note waiting from Mike.

Yeah, it's actually fun, thanks for asking :) the guys are nice and it's not as hard, plus Delson is a pretty chill dude. Customers are a bit weird, though. -M

He grins a little at the note. Customers. Mike has no idea.

-x-

The customers are - there's no other word for it - assholes. Seriously. This one time a woman argued with me for half an hour because she thought the apples weren't red enough. I shit you not. -C

-x-

Joe's bad mood is worse the next day. "Chester's not gonna be there for movie night or pizza night," he informs everyone. "Delson just told me."

"How come?" asks Rob, pausing in his mopping.

"Can't get time off," Joe answers. "It's a shame, that's what it is. Mike's first movie and pizza nights, and Bennington won't be there."

"That sucks, yeah," says Dave, clearly disappointed. "Well - next time, then, yeah?" He claps Mike on the shoulder and winks at him.

Mike scowls.

-x-

Oh God, really?? Btw, sorry you can't come to movie and pizza nights. It'll feel incomplete without you. -M

-x-

And he's right. That Friday night they all convene at Delson's place with popcorn and beer. Since Chester's not coming Delson gets to pick the movie, and he chooses Friends With Benefits. The movie's fun and the food is good, but it does feel incomplete even to Mike, who only knows Chester through notes.

The others share his feelings (obviously). "Sure wish Chester was here," Joe says more than once.

"He's got this thing where he makes sex scenes infinitely better," Dave tells Mike. "He points out stuff that doesn't make sense, or just things like that, until you feel like the sex is the most ridiculous bit ever. It's hilarious."

"Remember that time he found forty-seven problems with the sex scene in Ten Inch Hero?" cackles Delson. "I can never watch that movie without cracking up now."

"How did he find forty-seven problems in a 10-second sex scene?" wonders Mike.

"I told you, it's a talent," Dave says.

"It's just what Chester does," shrugs Rob. "He ruins sex scenes and cries over emotional scenes."

"He would have sobbed a bucket over this one," Joe says with a wistful grin, gesturing at the TV.

Not for the first time, Mike wishes he knew Chester better.

-x-

Yeah well, sometimes you gotta sacrifice. How was movie night? Please don't tell me Delson made you guys watch a romcom. -C

-x-

"Hey, do you guys talk to Chester? On the phone, I mean?" Mike asks Rob on Monday.

Rob frowns a little as he thinks about it. "Well, we used to, sometimes, but now even that's rare," he answers. "Like, he's just really busy all the time now."

"Oh. Okay," says Mike, and goes back to his bread. "But, like, don't you guys miss him a lot?" he calls across the store.

"Of course we do," Rob calls back. "But really, the weekend's the only time we can properly talk to him."

"Not anymore," Delson says, and they all turn to him. "He's got himself a weekend job as well."

"He's gonna drop dead, that's what," predicts Joe unhappily. "I don't want him to drop dead."

"I won't let him," vows Delson. "Next time he's walking in here looking like hell I'm gonna strap him to a bed and make sure he sleeps."

Dave snorts. "Good luck surviving that."

"Don't underestimate me, Farrell," warns Delson before going back to his book.

-x-

Delson's sorely tempted to make good on his promise when he sees Chester later on that day. The kid looks like death warmed over - his dark shadows are deeper, and he looks dead on his feet. "Kid," begins Delson emphatically, but Chester cuts him off.

"Samantha broke up with me," he says morosely. "She says I gotta move out by tonight."

Delson's silent for an entire minute, and then he says, "Did she give any reason?"

Chester shrugs. "Not that I'm aware of." He looks absolutely haggard. "I need a place to stay."

"Crash with me," Delson suggests. "You don't have to pay rent or anything."

Chester blinks. "What - really?"

Delson nods seriously. "Yeah. At least this way I'll know you're eating and sleeping well."

"You're the best, Brad," Chester says, offering him a grateful smile. "Thanks a lot, man."

"Don't mention it," says Delson and waves airily. "Oh, and you're finishing early today, 'kay? Store closes at ten; I want you at my place by eleven max. Capiche?"

"Yes," laughs Chester. "I get it."

He goes off to the fruit aisle and immediately scans it for a Post-It. Sure enough, there's a note stuck to a grapefruit.

He made us watch Friends With Benefits. It's not bad, actually, though I hear you can point out inaccuracies in any sex scene. Are you sure you can't make it to pizza night tonight? -M

Chester actually smiles. Mike's all right. More than all right, actually - Chester may not have ever really talked to him but it still feels like they're good friends.

-x-

So Mike might have a bit of a crush on Chester. Big fucking deal.

So Mike might not have told anyone yet, because he's never actually talked to Chester. Or even met him more than once.

So Dave might have figured it out.

"I'm telling you, just text him," he says insistently, pressing a small piece of paper into Mike's hands. "It's not that hard."

"I can't just text him," protests Mike half-heartedly.

"Sure you can, and you will," Dave tells him. "Don't be a baby, Mike."

"He likes you too, you know," Joe calls from the back of the store. "He told me."

Mike goes red. "Yeah?" he asks hopefully.

"Yeah," confirms Rob. "Bit weird, since you guys have never met, but whatever."

"But he has a girlfriend," remembers Mike.

"She dumped him, he's living with Delson," provides Dave. "Good thing. None of us liked her."

"Uh-huh. But you like me," states Mike.

Dave claps him on the shoulder. "'Course we do. You're cool."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Just call him."

-x-

Unfortunately, nope. No can do. Enjoy your pizza, though. In the meanwhile I'll be doing dishes and waiting on tables, and cursing out my girlfriend. Fuuun. -C

-x-

Predictably, Mike doesn't text him. At least, not at once. He's not sure Chester will even have the free time for text or a phone conversation. Also, there's no sign that Chester's interested in Mike that way. Maybe he just likes him as a friend.

Besides, his girlfriend just left him. Not the right time to make a move.

-x-

I'm sorry to hear that. Would be nice talking to you in person :) and sorry to hear about your girlfriend too. I hope you're doing okay.

PS: Dave gave me your number, if that's okay. -M

-x-

Chester feels refreshed for the first time in a long time. Delson made him go to bed early and woke him up as late as possible without actually making him late for work. It felt nice to have a full night's sleep for once.

He arrives at work in the evening less tired than before, and Delson's glad to see that he looks significantly better. "How's it going, kid?" he asks when Chester enters.

"Good, thanks," replies Chester. "Got a huge tip today!"

"That's great," congratulates Delson. "You ready for another evening of stacking fruit and writing notes to your boyfriend?"

Chester's cheeks go pink. "You know about that?"

"'Course I do," snorts Delson. "They're my sticky notes, aren't they?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Chester says somewhat defensively.

"Yet," Delson adds, and cracks up.

"Haha, Brad," says Chester sarcastically. "You're a riot, no really."

"I try my best," chortles Delson.

"I hate you," grumbles Chester, still pink.

-x-

Yeah well, guess that's life. To be honest I'm a bit relieved. I would probably have left her if she hadn't gone and done it first. I'm crashing with Delson now, so all's good.

And yeah, I don't mind that you have my number. Be warned, though - I'm bad at texting. I never have the time to reply. -C

-x-

"Hey, I got a question," says Joe.

"What?" responds Mike, sorting out cheese buns from croissants.

"How do you two make sure no one else takes the notes?"

"Well, we don't put them in obvious places," Mike tells him. "Or somewhere where a customer might see."

"Ahh. Okay."

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," says Joe with a grin, and goes back to work.

Okay, so the notes might fast be becoming the favorite part of Mike's day. Sue him. When it comes to love he's always been the all or nothing type anyway - either he'll not find someone attractive at all, or else he'll have a crush on a guy he's never spoken to. Because he doesn't do anything half-assed.

Mike groans to himself. What even is his life.

-x-

That's good to hear, I guess. Delson says you've been doing better now that he can mother-hen you. Also, pizza night was fun, but we all missed you there.

-x-

"Boy, you're not taking this shift," Delson tells Chester that evening. "You're off."

"But-"

"No buts. I'll pay you for today."

Chester narrows his eyes. "Why?" he asks suspiciously. "Are you people pranking me again?"

Delson rolls his eyes. "Nope, we're not. But Mike's free tonight, and so are you, so I think you two should meet up."

Chester's eyes go wide. "Wait - what?"

Delson hands him Mike's latest note. "Seriously, I'm running out of sticky notes and I'm not willing to invest in an extra pack just so you two can write each other love letters. Just go out already."

"But Brad-"

Delson's already pushing him out the door. "I told Mike to go to the nearest Starbucks. You're meeting him there."

"Does he know?" asks Chester faintly.

"No, of course not, do you think I'm dumb?" Delson rolls his eyes again, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Go, kid. Enjoy."

-x-

Mike orders himself an iced tea and takes a seat in the corner, wondering what Delson's up to. The man had just pushed a wad of cash in his hand and told him to go to the nearest Starbucks. "My treat," he'd said, and winked. Dave had guffawed loudly, and Mike got the feeling they were all in on whatever this was.

Well, whatever. He gets free iced tea, doesn't he?

He almost spits it out when he sees the door open and an uncertain-looking Chester enter. The guy looks really good in his black jeans and V-neck, and Mike tugs at his old black shirt self-consciously. Frigging Delson - he's 100% sure his boss had this planned.

What kind of world is this where his boss invites him to movie and pizza nights and sets him up with another employee, anyway? And all that too, in one week.

Chester spots Mike and comes over, smiling shyly. "Hello," he says, taking a seat across from Mike. "Delson said you'd be here."

Mike nods faintly. "He didn't tell me he was setting us up," he says.

"Well, I don't think I mind." Chester laughs nervously. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Nope, it's fine," Mike answers with a smile. "You wanna order something? Delson gave me cash and said it was his treat."

"Clever bastard," mutters Chester, and they both laugh.

-x-

It goes surprisingly smooth. They talk to each other, about work and interests and their families, and Chester's future in music. Chester tells him about an apartment his friend's told him off, and Mike offers to help him move in. They talk about their coworkers for a bit, and Chester updates Mike on all the highlights of their previous movie nights. Mike also gives him his number.

"Let me drop you off home," says Mike when it's time to leave. "Delson'll kill me if you're out too late because of me."

Chester laughs, and Mike finds himself thinking that he could definitely get used to hearing that sound more. "Nah, I don't think he'll mind," he says. "But okay."

Since Delson doesn't live too far away, they decide to walk. The evening's warm and pleasant, and they walk in a comfortable silence, steps almost in sync.

Mike steels himself when they finally arrive at Delson's door. "Today was... nice," he says. "Do you wanna do this again sometime?"

Chester smiles and nods, his face a little pink. "Sure," he says. "I'll let you know when I'm free."

"Okay," says Mike happily. Almost without thinking, he leans in and kisses Chester on the lips. It's nothing much, just a soft press of lips on lips, but it makes Mike's body tingle anyway.

Chester smiles again when Mike pulls apart. "I'll text you," is all he says, and Mike nods.

"Okay," he repeats, and smiles back. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mike."

He waits till Chester's closed the door before silently mouthing "YES" and pumping his fist in the air. He's done it, he's successfully gone on a date with Chester and kissed him, without fucking anything up.

He walks home with a spring in his step and a goofy grin on his face.

-x-

Feedback is absolute love.

-Remy x