bruised
[bruzd] adjective
1. denotes a drink that had been overshaken and has more water than normal.
2. alcohol intoxicated.
3. to be hurt or injured emotionally, as from an insult or unkind remark.

It wasn't certain if the boss was upset or if he just felt like screwing around. 

But his demands went to a record-high that night when he demanded that Ravi carry him to the washroom since the floors were wet. The janitor had probably broken a record for the amount of sundaes made in a day, since N seemed to ask for one every ten minutes. 

Once he got the chance to, Hongbin questioned Ravi's slave status.

"Why do you let N boss you around so much?" He asked, watching as the janitor made yet another sundae. "I mean, I understand that he is a boss, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't require you to pre-heat his blanket before he takes a nap."

Ravi grunted a bit as he was forming a heart shape with red sprinkles, another request from the tanned man. "Your policy," he answered. 

Hongbin's mouth formed an 'o' whilst Ravi excused himself to deliver the sundae and massage N's feet. 

Hyuk, having overheard the short conversation, questioned what the policy was. 

"Oh, it's kind of an inside joke thing... But since you've been here awhile, I'll explain it to you." The bartender gestured for him to sit down and poured him a glass of milk. "So I made up this policy here at 24 Hours where whenever we have dirt on someone, we get to do whatever the heck we want with them."

"So like blackmail, basically."

"Basically. You know how I'm the youngest person working here, next to you? But I address everyone informally. That's because I know a bit of everyone's secrets, and calling them by their first names is my price for not revealing them. Except for Leo-hyung. I don’t have any dirt on him... Yet."

Hyuk nodded out of understanding. "So the reason N-hyung is bossing Ravi-hyung around is because he knows one of his secrets?"

"You catch on fast," Hongbin grinned cheekily. "So now that you know, you have the privilege to snoop around and blackmail the other employees. Don't try it on me though, I know too much about you."

The busboy raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Try me."

"You have a two-hundred-thousand won Naruto collection."

Red appeared on the younger's cheeks. "Ssh! Keep it down! How did you know that?!"

Hongbin merely chuckled. "I have my ways. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You're new in the art of blackmail."

It was then that Hyuk realized the brunet was a force to be reckoned with.

The busboy decided to have a little fun with this new profound policy in his head. He started his fun in the kitchen when he was picking up an order.

"Are the nachos done yet?"

"Yeah," unsuspecting Ken replied while flipping patties. "They're on the counter over there."

"Alright," Hyuk went and picked the plate up. "Thanks, Ken-Ken!"

"Hold it!"

And the fish was baited.

Attempting to control his smirk, Hyuk turned back to the chef. "Yes, Ken-Ken?"

"Why are you calling me Ken-Ken?!" He pointed a spatula threateningly at the busboy. "It's 'hyung' to you!"

"Oh," Hyuk feigned innocence. "I thought I was allowed to call you that since I know your secret."

Ken dropped his spatula and visibly paled. "... Y-You know that I wear Spiderman every other day?"

"No, but now I do!" The busboy smiled demonically. "So I get to call you Ken-Ken. See ya Ken-Ken!" He cackled as he exited the room, leaving the chef completely and utterly had.

After he had delivered the orders, Hyuk decided to search for a new target. He ruled out Hongbin and Leo (for obvious reasons). So the only employees left were the Queen and his slave.

At table one, N was calmly sipping on some apple juice. His feet were resting on top of Ravi's back, who was crouching on the floor. "How goes the day, my dear Hyukkie?"

"The day goes well," he responded. "I see that you're very relaxed."

"Very," N laughed gallantly. "Peasants make for a good footstool." The janitor on the floor seemed to be muttering death threats. "Did you need something Hyuk-ah?"

"No, nothing. Except I need to know what to do about your... Secret." Hyuk threw out the bait, but the boss simply laughed again.

"That trick isn't going to work on me, dear. I know you don't have any dirt on me," he flaunted his nails. "Nice try, but I don't have any secrets. I'm an open book."

"You don't have any? Absolutely nothing?"

"Nothing. I'm clean."

Hyuk frowned; he found it extremely hard to believe. "You've got nothing to hide. Nothing under your belt?"

"Nope."

"Nothing hidden in your shoes?"

"Nope."

"Nothing on your back?"

"Nope."

"Nothing under your bangs?"

N's eyes widened and he choked on his own spit. When he recovered, he pulled Hyuk down by the collar. "How did you find out about my forehead?!" He whispered anxiously, just enough so that Ravi couldn't hear. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Just tell me what you want!"

The busboy realized that Lady Luck was probably on his side and that he should take the opportunity before she disappears, although he knew nothing of the alleged forehead. "... Give me a raise. And," he nodded towards the live footstool. "Give Ravi-hyung a break."

N stared unbelievably at him before obeying begrudgingly. "... I'll write it on the payroll." He lifted his feet off of Ravi and sauntered off grunting. 

Hyuk basked in his newly found dominance and cackled once more. He was so busy basking that he almost forgot Ravi was there.

The janitor got up and dusted himself off. "Hey, thanks for saving me from that ." He held out a fist and awaited a bump.

The busboy stared at him. "Don't be so familiar with me, I know your secret too."

Ravi blinked dumbly. "And what would that be?"

"Your love for Hongbin-hyung."

"."

Even though he already had dirt on three employees, Hyuk was still hungry for more. If he could blackmail everyone, he would be in complete control of the pub. A sense of domination overwhelmed him; and he knew that if he wanted to be the boss around here, he had to take down the blackmail master.

The problem was that he didn't know anything of Hongbin's deepest and darkest secrets. He needed something so incredibly personal that the brunet wouldn't dare leak any of his secrets out (no one needed to know about his precious Naruto collection). But like the master he was, Hongbin had his hands clean.

So he went to dig.

Hyuk slyly slid by the bar with the most innocent face he could pull. "Hey," he greeted the bartender. "What's up?"

"Not much," Hongbin glanced suspiciously at him. "How's the blackmailing going?"

"Pretty good, pretty good... Hey, do you have a crush on anyone?" Hyuk asked suddenly.

The brunet snorted. "Nice try."

"Humor me a bit. Are you interested in any girls?"

"Alright, fine." Hongbin picked up a wine glass to use. "No, I'm not interested in any females."

"No one?" Hyuk looked around the pub for any respectable ladies. "How about her?"

"I'm not interested, Hyuk-ah."

"C'mon, you have to be interested in someone," the busboy chortled. "It's not like you like men or something."

Suddenly, Hongbin let out a nervous laugh. "... Y-Yeah, of course not. I'm not gay or anything." He avoided the younger's gaze and gulped wearily. It was then that Hyuk realized.

"... Oh my god you're gay."

The brunet panicked and pulled him so that they were crouching behind the counter. Hyuk's assumptions were confirmed when he begged him not to tell anyone.

Suddenly blackmail wasn't so fun anymore.

I was hired at the Heartbreak Shop recently! Come check us out!
Anyhow, I know most of you are thirsty for some Neo~
their backstory is in chapters 17-20.
For now you guys are going to have to live with the little moments in between all the RABEAN~! /shot
holy hell i'm so biased
btw can you guys imagine Hongbin as that cunning, smartass, blackmailing kind of guy? >3<