Of Gods & Tea

“I don’t understand why you just don’t dump that no good, lazy, deadbeat ni--negro and get you a real man! Mish! Don’t you agree?”

“Do not involve me in this Becca. I am single,” Omisha aka “Mish” replies as she puts the cup of tea along with the teapot and the small finger foods on the tray. She reads the tag for who the food is supposed to go to. “Thanatos...why is that name so familiar?” she mumbles as she walks back out front, putting her soft smile on as she makes her way to the table where Thanatos is.

“Excuse me sir but I have your order.”

The man at the table looks up and blinks upon seeing the waitress at his table. The black and white uniform hugs her in a way that shouldn’t be allowed and her black eyes gleam from behind her round gold glasses.

“Oh. My apologies.”

He quickly moves his papers from the other side of the table as Omisha places the items down on the table. The man observes her as she makes sure everything is neatly in place.

“Here’s your English Breakfast tea along with the coffee crumb muffin, the mini apple pie, and the butter crackers. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Your number.”

Omisha stares at the man before taking her glasses off and cleans them. She puts them back on before moving a few of her braids behind her ear.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said, I would like your number. Please?”

The man flashes a bright smile that Omisha can tell worked on several other women before. She chuckles before shaking her head.

“Oh honey, you are going to have to do better than that.”

“I asked nicely!”

Omisha chuckles, a smile remaining on her lips as she turns.

“Enjoy your tea and treats sir.”

Omisha begins the walk back to the kitchen. She feels someone walking very close to her. She slowly turns her head to see her supervisor, Tiffany, next to her.

“How may I help you, Miss Black?”

“Do you know who you just served?”

“Should I?”

“That’s Hades Thanatos.”

Omisha slowly shakes her head, feigning cluelessness. Of course, Omisha knows who the hell Hades Thanatos is. Only someone living under a rock or off the grid wouldn’t know who the hell Hades Thanatos or the powerful, shits money out their ass family he is from.

“Of the Olympus family.”

Omisha looks back at the man and raises an eyebrow.

“Oh. Well, I didn’t recognize him. Hopefully, I didn’t offend him.”

Tiffany stares at Omisha.

“Are you being a smartass?”

“Sorry but I have to get Mrs. St. Clair her tea before it gets cold. You know how she hates cold tea.”

Omisha walks away, her smile staying on her face as one eye twitches. Is it 5 o’clock yet?

____________________________________________________

“Are you finished sir?”

Hades looks up at the pretty waitress and smiles.

“I am.”

She smiles as she begins to collect the dirty dishes. Hades takes even more of the waitress’ appearance in. Her skin is cinnamon brown and there’s a beauty mark under her left eye. He notices a hole in her nose and raises an eyebrow, tilting his head. She must have a nose piercing. He wonders if she has tattoos. He scolds himself. You should not be wondering that!

“Sir? Sir?”

Hades jumps as he looks up at the waitress who is holding the tray.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said, would you like a refill of your tea since it looks like you’re going to be here for a while.”

“Oh yes. I would like that. Can I get Earl Grey this time?”

“Of course.”

She walks off and Hades watches her walk off. He feels his heart flutter, a feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time. He grabs a waiter that walks by, who blinks in shock upon realising who grabbed him.

“M-Mr. Thanatos! What--”

“What’s the name of the waitress with the braids and glasses?”

He pauses for a moment before remembering.

“Omisha.”

“Omisha,” Hades repeats as he lets the man go. “Thank you.”

He nods before walking back to the kitchen. Omisha brushes pass him as she walks back over to Hades.

“Here’s your tea sir and my supervisor sent out this coffee muffin for you. On the house.”

“Thank you. Miss Omisha?”

Omisha looks at Hades who smiles at her.

“Can I please have your number?”

“I’ll consider it after I see how you tip.”

Hades blinks as she walks away. He has a feeling he isn’t going to her number.

____________________________________________________

“Omisha. Mr. Thanatos asks that you get this,” Marcus says as he walks over to her in the kitchen. Omisha looks at Marcus, raising an eyebrow as she accepts the check holder from him. She opens it, a small gasp leaving her. Marcus and Rebecca look over her shoulder and gasp with her. Inside is a crisp hundred dollar bill along with a number written on the customer copy of the bill.

“Did...Did Hades Thanatos leave you a hundred dollar tip?” Marcus questions in shock.

“And his number!” Rebecca exclaims. “Girl what did you do?”

“Nothing! All I did was my job and service with a smile!”

“I hope you give me a call. Girl, I don’t know what you put in his tea but pass it. I need me a rich boo.”

“He’s not my boo. He’s just a customer.”

“Who has a thing for you. Watch him become a regular now if you don’t call him.”

“We do not mix work and pleasure so no calling. No calling. He tips nice though.”

“Listen, with that tip,” Marcus says as he fixes his vest. “He can be a regular and sit at a table from store opening to store closing. Shit. I call dibs on him for next time.”

“Marcus, he's probably going to want Miss Corvus to be his server. Not Mr. Big.”

“I got bills too!”

They chuckle before returning to work, Omisha tucking the receipt in her pocket.

____________________________________________________

Today is not a good day.

First, Omisha was late to work because the goddamn MTA said “fuck your job” and was stalled in every goddamn station for five minutes. It made her normally thirty-minute commute nearly an hour and she is fifteen minutes late. Then, it started to rain even though the news said nothing about rain until the afternoon so she got partially soaked. And if that wasn’t bad enough, her pants for her uniform got so wet she has to wear the goddamn suspender pencil skirt which she hates more than anything cause it hugs her more than the pants do. As a result, she has to wear heels and goddamn she hates it. She just wants to go home.

Omisha inhales the cup of coffee Marcus made for her, before taking a deep breath and walks out the locker room, headed to the kitchen. She taps the screen, adding the appropriate food and tea to it before reading the table number.

“Fifteen.”

Omisha walks out, server smile on her face as she walks to table fifteen, navigating through the tables and bodies like a person who has clearly been doing this for a while. She reaches the table and blinks at seeing Hades.

“Mr. Thanatos.”

He looks up, smiling as he closes the book he is reading.

“Miss Omisha!” he exclaims before frowning. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

Hades stares at her before she sighs, shoulders slumping slightly.

“Okay fine: I’m not but I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me!” She chirps, forcing her smile back on her face. “Here’s your tea, coffee crumb muffin, and mini apple pie.”

Hades nods, seeing right through the smile but doesn’t push it. After all: he’s only a customer and not his girlfriend. Unfortunately, a little voice chimes in the back of his mind. He ignores it before looking back at Omisha who is looking at him.

“You get the same thing every time,” she murmurs.

“What else should I try?” he asks.

Omisha blinks upon realising he heard her. She gives a small smile.

“The triple chocolate brownie. It goes really well with coffee.”

“I’ll remember that. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Positive.”

Hades nods as she walks away, smiling as she pauses to talk to a toddler. He wonders what’s bothering her.

____________________________________________________

“Have a good lunch!” Marcus calls to Omisha who smiles as she pulls her leather jacket on and grabs her umbrella.

“Imma try! I got some errands to run.”

“Ma’am! Relax! Them errands can wait.”

“Marcus…”

“No, I’m serious Omisha. You can run errands this weekend. Or another time. You need to take this lunch break and relax. Don’t let me catch you doing errands.”

“How you gonna know if I do? You’ll be working.”

“Don’t ask me how I know what I be knowing. I just do.”

Omisha laughs as she shakes her head, her curls shaking with it. She had taken her braids out a few days ago.

“I mean it Omisha. Relax on your lunch break.”

Omisha nods as she walks out, making her way to the door.

“Miss Omisha?”

She turns, blinking at seeing Hades standing by the door.

“Mr. Thanatos...how can I help?”

“Hades and are you free right now?”

“Yeah...I’m on my lunch break. Why?”

“May I join you? If you don’t mind of course.”

Omisha looks at the door before looking at Hades.

“Sure. I hope you like Japanese food.”

“It’s one of my favourite cuisines actually.”

Omisha smiles as they make the quick walk to the nearby Japanese restaurant. They are seated quickly by a large window that gives them a view of the garden in the back. Tea is poured for them and they’re left to look at the menu.

“What are you thinking of getting?”

“The Tonkostu ramen and the Shrimp tempura roll.”

“You must come here often.”

“Not really. I just looked at the menu beforehand.”

Hades laughs as he decides what he wants, leaning back in his seat.

“Tell me about yourself Miss Omisha.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Hi! Are you ready to place your order?”

Omisha smiles at the waiter.

“Yes. I’m going to do the lunch special, the Tonkostu Ramen and the shrimp tempura roll.”

“Anything to drink?”

“The lychee lemonade please.”

“And you sir?”

“The chicken teriyaki bento box with the brown rice please.”

“Any drink?”

“More tea would be fine.”

“Okay. I’ll be back with your drinks shortly.”

The waiter takes the menus before walking off.

“Now, tell me about yourself.”

“Grad student. If I’m not working I’m at school. I have a pittie named Teddy and I’m a native to Brooklyn.”

“What are you studying?”

“Psychology. Clinical Psychology.”

“You’re smart.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Grad school isn’t easy to get into.”

“Oh, it’s easy getting in. The hard part is staying in.”

Hades chuckles before thanking the waiter who brings their drinks to them. Omisha sips her lemonade before looking at Hades.

“Why did you leave me a hundred dollar tip?”

“You said I had to tip well to get your number. But I figured you probably get hit on all the time at the cafe. You are beautiful and there’s a lot of older men in the cafe I noticed.”

“You’re an older man.”

Hades chuckles.

“True. How old are you?”

“22. You?”

“32. Ten years your senior.”

Omisha sips her lemonade before cutting to the chase.

“What do you want Hades?”

Hades blinks at the bluntness of the question.

“W-Why do you ask?” Hades curses himself for stuttering. He is supposed to be the smooth confident one! He can already hear his ex-wife’s snort before saying “smooth? Hades behind that cool exterior is a stumbling awkward, needy but sweet man.”

Omisha tilts her head, looking at Hades with calm black eyes that seem to be boring into him.

“I have had many men and women flirt with me. However, none have been as persistent as you. You have become a regular and from what I’ve been told by my coworkers: you only want me to be your waitress. So what do you want? Do you just want sex? Do you just want a little trophy?” Omisha sneers the last question, not meaning for it to come across so harsh but it does and Hades flinches slightly.

“Omisha--May I call you Omisha?”

Omisha nods, still staring at him as she sips her drink.

“I don’t know what men and women before me have done but I promise you I do not want a trophy.”

“So what do you want?”

“What do you want?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question.”

Hades chuckles as he sips his tea, the still hot tea burning his tongue. He mentally yelps at the pain.

“Fine. I think you are attractive and intelligent based on the brief conversations we have had. You have caught my eye not only because of your beauty but I can’t quite name it. I would like to get to know you, maybe even become more than friends or acquaintance but if not, I would be more than willing to spoil you,” he says, looking at Omisha. “I make more than enough money and even with what I donate, I’m still making more than enough to take care of myself and someone else. Of course, unless you--”

“You’re rambling.”

A pink hue blooms on Hades’ ivory skin and Omisha chuckles.

“So you want a sugar baby?”

“Not really but if that is what you want, than I am fine with it. Now, what do you want?”

Omisha licks her lips, pausing as she thinks. What does she want? Honestly, Omisha would just like to believe that she is desirable and that not all men are trash. However, Omisha is not going to tell Hades Thanatos that because the man is offering to be her sugar daddy and she has bills to pay.

“I want my bills paid.”

Hades snorts before sipping his tea again.

“I can do that.”

Omisha smiles as she sips her drink before noticing the waiter headed their way.

“Here’s your food! Enjoy!”

They thank the waiter before falling into small talk.

____________________________________________________

“Someone enjoyed lunch I see,” Marcus says with a smile as Omisha comes back in with a smile on her face.

“Oh, yes I did.”

“What did Mr. Thanatos want with you anyway?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Marcus and Rebecca stare at Omisha who hangs her coat up, putting her umbrella in the drying rack.

“Omisha...what happened with Mr. Thanatos.”

Omisha simply winks before walking back out. These orders aren’t going to serve themselves.