MAGNETIC LOVE
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ Raiden develops a crush on the waitress who works at Madam Bo's (fluff, Raiden being hopelessly in love, Kung Lao is the wingman??, I know this trope has been used a lot but this is my take on it, reader is fem!!)
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Being Earthrealm's champion can be exhausting sometimes, so he figured, what's better than to take a break at one of the places that reminds him when times were simpler.
However, the problem was that he didn't expect to end up spending half of his time at the restaurant staring at the waitress Madam Bo had hired just recently. He was staring so much that he lost track of time.
In defense, how could he not?
Your smile was intoxicating and your eyes were mesmerising.
The way you worked fast yet elegantly.
And how he would catch a whiff of your perfume when you walked past his table.
Everything about you was drawing him in and he hasn't even asked for your name yet nor did you even know anything about him.
Just as he spends another of his free days at the restaurant, technically just there to watch you work, he suddenly felt a hand pat him on the shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to see it was Kung Lao.
"So this is where you go to when you're not busy" He said as he took the chair beside him.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"It's not hard to track you down when you know so little places" He said, relaxing in his chair until he notises the plate of food on the table.
It was untouched and already growing cold. This peaked interest in him since he never does this. To be honest, who could say no to Madam Bo's food?
"Do you just come here everyday to waste food? What a customer you are" Kung Lao jokes and Raiden struggles to find the right words to say, but the second you stepped in frame, his eyes darted towards you which Kung Lao easily followed suit.
It didn't take long for him to understood what was happening.
"Oooohhh... I get it now. You have a crush on the waitress working here, huh?" He nudges him with a teasing smirk.
"Is it that obvious?" Raiden asks.
"Uh... yeah. Judging by how you looked at her just now, I'm pretty sure everybody knows" Kung Lao pointed out how his face seemed to light up the moment he looked at you.
Hearing him say that, Raiden couldn't help but steal a glimpse of you wiping a nearby table clean after disposing all the dirty plates into the sink. The way the strands of your hair fell from behind your ear and you quickly tucking it back in place made him swoon even more.
"You're doing it again...! Have you not said a thing to her? Not even a hello?" Kung Lao grabbed him by the shoulders to force him to focus on him.
Raiden simply shakes his head at his question.
"I've thought about it but I'm not sure if I want to disrupt her working hours"
"Well she doesn't work ALL the time. You can just wait for her to finish her shift. Wow, are you that in love that your brain stopped working?" Kung Lao said, poking him by the shoulder playfully.
"It's not as easy as it seems"
"That's just you" Just then, Kung Lao got up from the chair causing it to screech a bit against the wooden floor.
"Welp, I better get going. Unlike you, I managed to score myself a date with someone. Good luck" He said with a strong pat on the shoulder before leaving.
He had to admit, he could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest just considering the suggestion. As far as he knows, he's good at starting up a conversation with anyone, it's just he'll be doing it to you and the thought alone makes him nervous.
What if this wasn't the first time a customer tried to get with you? Considering how attractive he found you to be, you must have dealt with this situation a lot. So that means you've rejected a lot of people or...
Maybe you were already dating someone??
He gulps at the thought and tried to brush off the feeling by drinking his tea. Well he doesn't see a ring so you can't be married. No matching jewelleries or anything. So you can't be taken yet right?
All this overthinking was doing anything but help him. Maybe he'll just ask you... riggght after he's done boosting himself up.
By the time the sun was setting and that the sky has gone pinkish orange, you grabbed your bags from the locker after changing back into your casual clothes.
It was already an exhausting day, it's a relief you didn't have to deal with any rude customers.
Just as you left the restaurant, you were suddenly approached by a man. A customer actually. You recognised him easily since he always ordered the same thing.
"Hi" He greeted you with a smile and you couldn't help but smile back.
"Hello"
For an awkward moment, you two were just smiling at each other until he finally realised he was supposed to say something next.
"I'm Raiden"
"(Y/N)"
Another awkward silence drops upon you. You're starting to feel like he's not good at starting conversations.
"Did you want to talk to me about something?" You asked and he had to blink a couple of times to snap out of his head.
"Well uh... I just wanted to get to know you..."
"Oh?" You were surprised at his answer and he couldn't help but wonder if it was a good surprise or a bad surprise.
"I hope I don't come off as a creep"
"Ehh... well... to be fair you've been staring at me as I worked these days" You said as you awkwardly avoided his gaze and he swore he almost choked when he heard you.
So you knew all this time and you never did anything about it? Now it just makes him feel even more of a creep.
"But I asked and Madam Bo told me a lot about you, she says you're a good person and that you're very kind" You smiled at him and it eased his nerves a bit.
"What else did she say?"
"She also told me to make you stop coming to the restaurant because of how she's fed up with you not eating your food when it's hot but only when it's cold. She says its a disgrace to her cooking" You said and it made him chuckle softly.
"She said that?"
You nodded.
"Will I be blacklisted?" He asks and you pretended to reconsider the consequences but it also seemed like you were playing around with him.
"I guess you won't be... if you ask me out for dinner" You said and he felt his heart flutter for a second.
"Well then... do you happen to be free now?" He asks which had you grinning.
"Mm... I don't have plans tonight but it depends on where you're taking me"
"I know a good restaurant around the block. It'll be my treat, what do you say?" He said, his behaviour seeming to appear more layback and confident.
"How can I say no to free food?" You chuckled and it just made the smile on his face grew wider.
Days later, you would find yourself frequently taken on dates after your shift. Sometimes they were fun and sometimes they were romantic. Either way, it was perfect. You didn't think you'd fallen for the guy but you did. He was really everything Madam Bo said, except for the fact that he short circuits whenever he's flustered, which you easily found adorable.
All this effort and you two haven't even made it official yet.
On another working day, you stood by the desk as you accept the customers payment. Once you were done, you saw a couple more customers enter but one of them caught your eye immediately. You grabbed your pen and notebook to take their orders. As you approached their table, his eyes were focused on you straight away.
"Welcome to Madam Bo's, what would you like to eat?" You asked, trying to stay professional.
"I have to admit Raiden, this place is great!" His friend with the glasses spoke.
"You're just saying that because he promised you money if you agreed to come" The man with a blindfold (?) said .
"We'll just have the usual" Raiden said to you as the two went on bickering. You nodded and shoot him a playful smirk before delivering his order to the kitchen.
By the time their food was done and after you served it to them. You just went on doing your work but you couldn't help and turn your head every now and then to see him eating or chatting with his friends. Honestly you found it ironic how the tables have been turned. Now you were the creep watching him do his thing.
The second the sun setted, you grabbed your stuff and left the restaurant once you were finished with helping Madam Bo close it. However as you waited at the door for Raiden to pick you up for one of your dates, you didn't see him anywhere. Was he too busy with his friends that he forgot?
Feeling a bit disappointed but trying not to let it ruin your mood, you decided to head home. Though it took you only a few steps until you heard someone call out to you. With a knowing smile on your face, you turned to the other way to see Raiden running towards you, a hand hidden behind him as he was obviously holding a bouquet.
"Is that for me?" You nodded at the flowers and he seemed embarrassed that his surprise was already blown.
"Yeah... I had to run to the other side of town because the shop I usually buy from was out of stock" He handed it to you and you could see a clear view of the variety of flowers.
"Romantic" You smiled as you took it from him.
"I'm glad you like them... but I need to ask you something..." He said, his body language shifting from tired to serious. You look up at him with intrigue.
"I hope these past few days have been great for you but all these moments we've shared. I can't help but wonder if you feel like there's more to it" He said, his eyes never cutting contact with yours. You blush.
"Are you asking me if we're exclusive?" You said and your forwardness made his heart beat faster.
"Yes"
"Do you want it to be?"
"More than anything" His answer delivered without hesitation.
You stare at him... your lips soon forming a genuine smile.
"Then there's no point in denying it... we're official" You said. For a second he seemed to be frozen in time but you noticed how his eyes also sparkled with joy.
"Oh um... well... that was easier than I thought... does that mean you're still up for dinner?" He asks, trying to calm himself from how happy he was, he could feel his cheeks starting to hurt from smiling so much.
"Yes, but this time, I'll pay for us. My treat" You pat him on the chest before walking off and he could only chuckle as he quickly catches up to you.
You were definitely something...
