Mynameistocool

Richie Jerimovich x fem!reader

Warnings: swearing, a gun, suicide, and Richie being a duck but that’s not really new.

Assistance - Chapter 1

The worn bell above the door of The original Beef of Chicagoland jangled, its chime as tired and weary as the shop itself. You, age 28, stood behind the counter, wiping down the laminate surface with a well-used rag. The sandwich shop, nestled in the heart of Chicago's West Side, had seen better days. Its once-bright sign now faded and chipped, much like your own dreams that had dulled over the years.

Born and raised in Chicago, you are a product of the city's gritty charm and resilient spirit. You grew up in a modest apartment a few blocks away with your Pa, where the scent of freshly baked bread from the shop had been a constant in your childhood. Your parents, hard-working and loving, had instilled in you a sense of duty and loyalty that you now applied to your job, though it was not the life you had imagined for herself. At 20, fresh out of high school and full of ambition,You had taken a job at the small sandwich shop as a busser to save up for college. The plan was to stay just a year or two, but life had other ideas. Family responsibilities, financial setbacks, and the comfort of familiarity had somehow kept you there, cleaning table and dishes to then serving sandwiches and smiles to a loyal yet dwindling customer base.

The small sandwich shop had become a second home, it’s dented metal chairs and scuffed linoleum floors as familiar as your own living room. The small, cluttered kitchen where you prepared orders was a place where you could almost move with your eyes closed. The regulars, a mix of blue-collar workers and neighborhood eccentrics, often greeted you with the warmth of old friends. To them, you weren’t just an employee; you were, the girl who knew their orders by heart and listened to their stories with genuine interest. That was four months ago before the owner Micheal or Mikey Berzatto as everyone called him blew his fucking brains out in the crack of night. He was a good man.

And each day, as you wrapped sandwiches in wax paper and rang up sales on the ancient cash register, you couldn't help but wonder what your life might have been like had you taken a different path or if Mikey had not died.

The shop’s worn walls, covered in vintage posters and faded photos, whispered tales of its heyday, a stark contrast to its current state. The overhead lights flickered occasionally, casting fleeting shadows that danced across your tired yet hopeful face. You sighed, pushing an escaped strand of hair behind your ear, and glanced at the clock. You moved with practiced efficiency, slicing tomatoes and arranging fresh lettuce with a precision born of years of repetition. The prep work was a familiar routine, a symphony of motions you performed without conscious thought.

"C'mon, guys, we open in twenty! Let's get it together!" Carmy bellowed from his station at the front of the kitchen. Carmy, the young head chef and now owner, had taken over the shop after his brother Mikey's untimely death. His relentless drive carried the weight of a legacy he was determined to honor. His voice, sharp and urgent, echoed through the room, a reminder of the high standards he upheld.

You glanced over at Marcus, a young man with a bright smile and an infectious enthusiasm. He was busy kneading dough, his hands a blur of motion as he worked on the bread and pastries. Flour dusted his apron giving him the look of a snow-dusted sculpture. He caught your eye and flashed a grin, the kind that made the morning rush a bit more bearable. Ebra, the oldest among them, was meticulously slicing meats with the care of a surgeon. His years of experience showed in the way he handled the knife, each cut precise and perfect. You had learned a lot from Ebra, his quiet wisdom a steadying force in the chaotic kitchen. "Tina, how are those potatoes coming?" Carmy called out, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "Almost done, Jeff !" Tina replied, her hands deftly chopping peppers and onions. She moved with a grace that belied her tough exterior, a no-nonsense woman who kept the team in line with a well-timed glare or a sarcastic comment.

You focused on your task, your hands moving automatically as you prepped for the day. Despite the clamor and chaos, there was a rhythm to the kitchen, a dance they all knew well. It was in these moments, surrounded by you “makeshift family”, that you felt a strange sense of small peace, even if just for a fleeting second. "you got those tomatoes ready?" Carmy's voice snapped you back to reality. "Almost there," you replied, picking up the pace. You knew the drill: speed and precision were the order of the day. The customers would soon be lining up, and everything had to be perfect.

“Behind, behind, behind.” A quiet and new voice could be heard from behind you making your head quickly turn your hands still sliding the chopped vegetables into the small plastic tub. “Who are you ?.” You take note of the new woman your head bobbing up waiting for a response.

“Sydney.” She quickly replied with small smile and you introduced yourself back out of respect and kindness you were new once you know how much of a ball-ache these people are turning back to your work quickly moving along but you did mange to catch Sydney chasing after Tina who only spoke Spanish to her the interaction making smile. “Corner !” And then it quickly disappeared at that voice.

The kitchen door swung open, and Richie strolled in, tall and lean with a buzz cut. At 37, Richie was an enigmatic mix of charm and grit, his presence both a comfort and a complication. He and Carmy were close, calling each other "cousin" though they weren't actually related. Their bond was one forged in shared history and mutual respect.

"Yo, family morning ," Richie called out walking round a fretting every person with a friendly smile and hug apart from you. “Fucking with my program cousin.” He called out to Carmy, who just mumbled back and short answer “program started four hours ago.” barely looking up from his prep station. “Yeah well I had the kid all morning excuse me.” Richie turned meeting Carmy heads half way up “listen what’s happening with Ballbreaker my insta fucking blowing up.” Richie spoke “you got like thirty followers.” Marcus added turning away “yeah, I got… what is that a diss ? Yeah I got thirty six followers you fucking jackass.” Richie bit back his laugh echoing through the kitchen joined by Marcus’s.

“We need business, nerds come in from Rockford to play.” Carmy responded making his way round others “yeah in 1987 when you were still in that deadbeats balls.” Richie reached out for Tina who was reaching up to kiss his cheek “how are you ?” Richie switched to her other cheek leaving a quick kiss “yeah how was the recital ?” She asked meaning Richie daughter “oh god ! She fucking murdered it Tina. Hold on…” Richie quickly followed Carmy moving figure.

Your jaw tightened at the sight of Richie. To put it simple your relationship was a constant friction, sparks flying whenever you two were in the same room. You didn't appreciate his laid-back attitude and constant aggression/ hostility and he found your seriousness grating. You both had mutual dislike which was a poorly kept secret in the small, bustling kitchen.

"You got those preps ready?" Carmy asked sliding past you. “Like I said almost there," you replied, picking up the pace even more. Richie ambled over to the counter, eyeing your work. "You sure those tomatoes are fresh ? They look a little tired, like someone I know." You shot him a withering look. "Just worry about your own shit, Richard. I'll handle mine." Carmy intervened before the exchange could escalate. "Alright, enough. We've got a busy day ahead. Let's focus." You moved along stepping in-front of Carmy and Richie making your way to the walk in the pair of men following you close behind.

“Scuse me.” You slid past Sydney reaching up for the fresh parsnips. “Whoa who the fuck is this ?” That grating voice came again. “Sydney.” You quickly spoke going onto your tip toes. Who the fuck put veg this high ? “this is Sydney. I’m staging today.” The young woman spoke up for herself “Your what-ing today ?” Richie asked his voice confused as he looked between Carmy and her “she staging you dipshit she just fucking said.” You sneered still trying to reach for the veg “At-least I can reach the fucking veg.” Richie hissed back watching the twenty eight year old struggle. “She’s helping us out today.” Carmy intervened “can I use these Bananas ?” Sydney held up the fruit waiting for Carmys approval “cousin you order different mayo ?” Richie asked “no. all you chef.” Carmy responded to Sydney ignoring Richie “yeah all you chef.” Richie spoke up standing tall by the entrance as he threw his hands in the air. “He was using them to make a giant nut muffin.” You rolled her eyes at the comment. What a fucking idiot. “It was a play on a panettone. It would have been beautiful if you’d let me finish it.” Camry quickly defended himself “oh cousin.” Richie smacked his back making Carmy drop some stuff “Fuck you !” He shouted out.

“Richie Jeremovich. Pleasure to meet you sweetheart.” He held out his hand to Sydney who just shook his hand awkwardly “oh Richie really ?” You nearly threw up in your mouth at his sweet words “don’t say sweetheart you fucking wierdo.” Carmy made the same expression as you as he stood between the pair grabbing some more ingredients. “Oh sorry you guys are so woke.” Richie threw his head in air “I meant nothing by it Sydney saying sweetheart is just part of our Italian heritage.” He held his hands up following Sydney as she left the walk in. “That beautiful. Thank you.” She walked away back into the bustling kitchen. “Italian ? I have more fucking Italian in me than you” you walked past him out the walk in “I bet you have.” Richie threw his head up “what the fuck is that meant to mean ?” You turned around staring at the man “you know what it means.” He shrugged his shoulders “you’re a fucking dick.” You spat “we know.” He shrugs once more “Fuck off Richard.” You walk away not in the mood to deal with him “don’t use’s that fucking name.” He held his hand high as you left.

You quickly finished the last of your prep and started organising the ingredients into their designated stations. Ebra, with his usual meticulous care, was laying out the meats in perfect rows, each slice almost a work of art. Tina, now done with the other vegetables while Marcus was pulling out bread. After few loud shouts and bangs from the walk in walked out stopping infront of the spice rack well shelf he was trying to distract himself and by your guess make it look like he was actually doing something for fucking once. His tall frame was making quick work of the high shelves. Searching through the changed inventory his face showing his pissed off emotions more and more as his eyes searched the area.

Maria started cleaning the tops placing the fresh prepared sliced veg near Tina finishing in two minutes flat she made her way round the kitchen for search off any other messes she’d have to fucking clean.

“Was richie always an arsehole ?” Marcus asked Fak as he fiddled with bolts on the mixer “always and forever dude.” Fak turned hearing your footsteps checking it wasn’t the man of hour Richie “just ask her.” Marcus looked to you “I ain’t saying shit about him.” And right you were as Fak began running his mouth again Richie approached “he the worst he’s not a nice guy. He’s just sad inside.” The words left his mouth and the tattooed man felt his presence behind “Fak.” Richie sent a warning look his way before turning to you his brows furrowed to which you just shrugged like he did earlier.

“Yo Family’s up.” Sydney called from the other room and everyone flooded through ready to taste the chefs food. As soon as you walked in the smell hit and fuck it was a delicious smell quickly making your way over to a seat grabbing the small pots Sydney had prepared “this look’s good Sydney.” You smiled at the young woman. The rest of the team took their seats all digging into the prepared meal “alright I’ll start I’m grateful for Philip K Dick. Fak you’re up.” Richie spoke his mouth full. Fucking disgusting. “Me ? Ahhh I’m thankful for my cats Ralph.” Fak sputtered out not expecting him to be included “they both named Ralph ?” Tina tilted her head in a questioning manner. “Yeah it’s just like it’s easier that way.” Ralph explained himself making Tina laugh “alright Tina you’re up.” Richie ushered the attention to the older woman sat at the corner of the table. “I’m grateful for all you.” She flung one hand up before dipping her head down with a warming smile making table erupt in awes and coos “awww look at you softy.” Richie tease over the table. “I guess I’m grateful that Richie didn’t come in here wearing that cologne that he always be wearing you know that smell like a pine tree and shit.” Marcus added his two pence into the lineup making the whole table laugh “Y/N ?” Tina addressed you “ummm I’m grateful for… fuck.” You tried to think “you’re grateful for fuck ?” Richie raised his brows “no you arsehole i am grateful for being here in this sandwich shop with all you fuckers.” You mumbled out digging into your bowl and the table laughed “and for not having knife on me to stab Richard.” You quickly added having more laughs out the table and a jack off gesture from the man himself.

You were too spaced out eating your meal with the chattering background that eased your worries away to realise Carmy had gone outside to deal with the growing crowd or more likely mob of nerds. It wasn’t until Richie scraped his chair across the floor that your attention had came back to present the tall man quickly got up and left marching to the kitchen and you followed already knowing his procedure to dealing with these things.

“what the fuck are you doing ?” You asked following the man making him turn to give you one quick look “what the fuck are you doing ?” He repeated your question annunciating the you “seriously ?” You watched as he searched the kitchen “yes seriously.” He quickly pulled open a pot digging through and grabbing his gun “oh what the fuck.” You threw your hands in the air “shut up.” He held it in his tight grip walking past you. “You gonna shoot them Richard ?” You followed after him again. “Didn’t I tell you to fucking stop with that.” He abruptly stopped making your body smack into his the gun held closer to your face “now fuck off.” He marched outside holding the gun high as he fired one shot nodding his head.

The neighbouring farm was owned by no other than Mr miller a man your father had told you to stay far from. He’d left town for many years only coming back once his father had died.

Warnings : age gap

Prologue

You lived on a humble farm a few miles away from town. Dirt filled the path to your door, but beautiful flowers and the greenest grass grew everywhere else. The land was your parents, but it was now just your father's your mother passed away while you were young, fever taking her away at early hours in the morning when you were five years old.

 The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, but there was still light visible as the sky became an assortment of pastel tones of pink and orange. In the distance, the silhouette of the farm was painted against the skyline. The farm was small but neat, with a variety of crops carefully tended to. The animals were all accounted for, and the barn looked to be securely locked against potential invaders or predators. The air was still and silent, and it seemed as though nothing could disturb the serene atmosphere. The fields of tall golden wheat swayed with grace and dignity. Your family farm house was old but still stood strong and proud, its white paint has been stained and dulled due to the passing years of weather.

It was the opposite to the millers farm. A once beautiful home now looked so empty and cold, the only person to inhabit was Mr Miller himself, a quiet man who you often saw working on the home or in the fields. The aloof man was a tall, muscular man who stood at over six feet in height. He was somehow rugged but also handsome. His hair is often short yet messy for the few times you have seen it without his damm hat. His eyes were cold and emotionless, yet gave off a sense of intelligence as he carried himself around with an air of pride and confidence.

Your father wasn’t too fond of the Miller man he had spoken to him, frequently receiving a curt nod and a couple of small words, nothing more than a sentence leaving his mouth. He’d told you to stay clear of the man, telling you he’s nothing like the friendly soul his father used to be, but you’d disagree with your father on this.