IT WAS ALREADY 11 P.M.

"Hey, Nico." Joe's head whipped to the left, eyes locating the bulky man standing by the till. His chin angled her way, letting her know he was listening as his eyes were glued to the screen. "I'm clocking out."

"A'right, I'll take it from here," he said, throwing her a smile. She took off her apron and patted his shoulder to bid him goodbye.

She braced an arm on the sturdy counter, and jumped up to the other side, legs swinging off the surface.

The Rabbit Hole was packed as usual, but it was nothing Nico couldn't handle on his own at this hour. It was how he did it for years before she was hired after all.

"See ya."

"Say hi to Lizzie for me. Tell her she forgot the cat meds here again," he called out, already maneuvering the rest of the orders, the sound of clinking bottles and crushed ice bouncing against her ears.

Joe shook her head. Typical. "Yup, will do."

The golden light washed her pale skin as she navigated her way through the tables. It was bustling and loud, as it should be for a Friday night, and it was mainly because of the games of cards taking place on multiple tables at once. There was fighting and yelling out of nowhere, weapons ready at the table as a mere form of intimidation but nothing else, not under her's or Nico's watch. Banning was a card they didn't hesitate to use if fights were to go down, and it seemed to be enough warning seeing as The Rabbit Hole was Burlington's best spot.

She recognized faces on her way out, nodding her head back as they waved her way. She'd been working here since she was fourteen. Almost fourteen years now and counting. She knew every face by name, and they knew her by heart.

"Out so soon, Joe!" Otto, Burlington's tattoo artist who was responsible for every ink on her skin, exclaimed. He was standing by the pool table, figure tall and lean, hair swiped into a one-sided bang and eyeliner popping his eyes. His pet monkey was curled on the rail, watching a woman who leaned against the table, adjusting the cue to aim the white ball in the corner.

"Gotta see the kids." She grinned. "Might pass by tomorrow. Thinking of getting one on my back."

"Whenever you want. Place's yours."

Joe's eyes skipped back to the woman once she shot her cue, knocking the balls around the table, and getting three in.

"Nice."

The woman looked up, meeting her eye, a smirk stretching on her lips. "Thanks." Her voice was deep, and her eyes skimmed down her length. Joe's eyebrows shot up. Well. It was too bad she had to leave. She threw her a smile and turned around.

Her eyes landed on Zachary, who sat on his usual table with five other men, a beer in hand, and his parrot perched on his shoulder.

She cupped both hands around her mouth. "Yo Zach, thanks for the meat! Delicious."

"Don' go around sayin' stuff like that ou' loud!" He growled and she howled with laughter, his parrot mimicking her. She jumped outside before he got the chance to throw his drink at her face.

She walked down the narrow road, the stoned pavement lightened by the rustic lanterns mounted on houses' walls. Her eye caught a flash of pink in her peripheral vision, and she snapped her head up to find Jeremy perched on a roof, legs dangling in the air and painted nails smudging his sketchbook.

"Hey!" She called out and he shot his head down to look at her.

"Yo!" He waved, lips quirking up into a wide grin that lightened his features.

"It's haircut day, don't forget."

"Already?"

"You better be back before I finish with Ollie and Liz," she yelled behind her shoulder, then craned her neck to look at him as she added: "If you're late I'm shaving it all off!"

"Ay, ay!"

She chuckled, shaking her head and jugging the way back. Once there, she pushed the handle down, pushing the door open. She smiled at the sight of Lizzie as she sat before the full-length mirror tilted against the wall next to the fireplace, and Ollie, standing next to her with a broom in his hands.

"Look at you all ready." Joe grinned, satisfied she was combing her wet hair, a towel wrapped around her shoulders.

"I'm getting rid of those... damn... knots." Her exertion was evident from the sound of the comb's teeth tearing at her wet hair.

"She's been at it for ten minutes," Ollie mumbled, eyes wide with rapt attention.

Joe rested her elbow on the doorway, tilting her head as she arched an eyebrow. "We wouldn't be having this problem if you let me cut them all the way off."

"God, no." Lizzie snapped her head to glower at her. "Unlike you, I like long hair."

Joe chuckled. She took her boots off before getting in, a rule enforced by Kaden when he had once mopped the floor, and everyone had barged in to smudge it with their dirty boots only minutes later. She pinched the collar and stepped in, sliding her feet inside the slippers that were left by the door.

She stepped inside, marching to the living room and leaning down to plant an obnoxiously loud kiss on Lizzie's cheek. Lizzie instantly leaned into her touch, reciprocating by blowing a kiss in the air. Joe tapped her shoulder. "Keep at it, I'll be back."

She walked to Ollie, pinching his chin, and squishing his cheeks. He protested and she popped a kiss on his cheek anyway. She snickered when he whined, bypassing him and the open kitchen, and heading for the hallway. Her room was the first door on the right and she threw her shoes in and headed back out to the kitchen sink, opening the faucet to wash her hands.

"Nico says hi," she said, hands roughly lathering soap on her palm and between her fingers, scrubbing off today's spilled drinks and the metal smell of coins. "He's got meds you forgot."

"Oh, that's where they were!" Lizzie gasped.

Joe closed the faucet, the handle creaking under her grasp. She turned and walked to where Lizzie sat, taking the comb from her grasp. Lizzie cringed, preparing herself for the rough combing of Joe - that was the only reason she would thoroughly comb her hair beforehand, so she wouldn't be subjected to that kind of torture. Joe's eyebrows shot up when the comb slid down her long dark hair in one swift movement.

"You're improving."

"Sure hope so, it's been ten solid minutes..." Ollie blinked and Lizzie grinned proudly.

Joe finished with the comb, lacing her fingers through Lizzie's hair. A small stool was positioned next to her, with a smaller comb, a razor, a shaving brush, a pair of scissors, and clips set on it. Joe took the smaller comb and flipped it to use the thin handle to part her hair right in the middle. She then took the left section, balancing the comb on the top of her head to find the apex. As she found it, she took the comb from that point and slid it down right behind her ear to split that section into two. She took a clip and caught one of the sections, moving to the right and repeating the process.

She moved back to where she stood initially, lacing her finger through thick wet hair, droplets of water slithering against her skin. She pinched the section and slid down, leaving a good chuck hanging.

"Longer." Lizzie's eyes narrowed.

Joe pursed her lips at the clipped tone, putting the scissors up so she could see it through the mirror. She clipped the air. "Careful with the tone," she threatened, and Lizzie rolled her eyes.

She complied nonetheless, sliding down further and began snipping the edges. When she had first started cutting her hair, she would use hairbands to tie the ends of the sections, check they were even, and cut all at once. Now that it'd been ten years since the first time she cut it, she could do it with her eyes closed.

Next to her, Ollie broomed the floor, busying himself as she worked and as she neared the end, Jeremy decided to grace them with his presence.

"Good evening," he greeted in a fake posh accent as he burst the door open, clumsily taking his shoes off, jumping on one leg and then the other to do so.

"Did you see Kaden on your way back?" Ollie asked, glancing worriedly at the clock hanging on the wall on top of the couch. It was already 11:43 p.m. On a Friday night, Kaden would usually be back by 11:30.

"Nope." Jeremy frowned. He stepped inside, socks padding on the hardwood floor.

"Don't worry." Joe offered a smile, glancing fleetingly at him before she focused back on her task. "It's still eleven forty-five, he'll be here." Jeremy bypassed her and headed for his room. She was quick to call after him, "It's your turn, you've got five minutes to wash up!"

"Gimme three!" He challenged and already, she heard the water running.

"Time him." She jutted her chin to Lizzie through the mirror, noticing she already had her phone in her palm and the timer ready.

Time slipped by as they dusted the dark long strands off the wood, and as the clock hands stroke 12:30, tiny pink hair now coated the pile in the dustpan. Jeremy collapsed on the couch, still pissed he had received a pinch to the jaw that still stung and was most likely going to bruise instead of the mohawk he had asked for.

"Come on." Joe ushered at the empty seat for Ollie to take. He had washed up, the shine of his blond hair now darker under the water's heavy weight.

He moved to sit, fidgeting nervously under her inspection of his hair. She threaded her fingers through the strands, lips curling down.

"I always hate doing that to your hair," she whined, rounding her arms around his shoulders, and resting her cheek against the top of his head.

Lizzie rolled her eyes from where she sat on the couch behind them, next to Jeremy. "Every time."

In fairness, Ollie's hair was worth the sulk. It was golden and soft, its smell a gentle blend of fresh peppermint and hints of citrus. It had been that way since he was barely six and Joe loved it.

She tightened her hold and nuzzled her nose through the strands, inhaling deeply.

She stopped when she couldn't detect the usual fragrance that brought her comfort. Ollie flinched the moment her head snapped up and she looked at him through the mirror with eyes stretched wide, irises mirroring her sudden betrayal.

"Did you change your shampoo?" She accused, her stomach sinking in disappointment.

"Um... well..."

Collective gasps were heard from the two clowns behind her, before they fell into a fit of laughter, Lizzie even making a show of holding her stomach as if sucker punched.

"Why?" Joe's voice was a high-pitched squeal.

"Didn't think you had it in you." Jeremy was clapping.

"Ah..." Ollie's cheeks were painted red, flustered. He didn't know how to tell her, but he was hesitant to change the shampoo he had been using years ago because he knew she liked it so much. But he was twenty-two now... he couldn't use Baby Johnson forever.

"It smelled so good before." She barely knew what it smelled like now. Granted, there was still peppermint, now blended with a hint of lavender - but it wasn't the same. She prayed to the god she didn't even believe in that this wasn't Head & Shoulders.

"He's not a kid anymore, Joe."

Somewhere through all the commotion, Kaden had opened the front door, his movement so quiet they had all missed it. Ollie felt the instant relief melting the heavy weight off his chest - it was 12:40 a.m. now. That was unlike him. Joe directed her fiery glare to meet his eye. He was leaning against the doorway as he took his shoes off one by one, slipping his feet into the soft material of the slippers.

"Don't say that!" She hissed, hands instinctively covering Ollie's ears. Her eyes narrowed. "You're the culprit, then."

He hooked his fingers to the topline of his shoes, dark strands falling on his cheeks as he walked inside. "It's just shampoo," he mumbled, bypassing them to disappear inside the hallway.

"It's not the same!"

Joe stopped the rest of her complaints as soon as she caught a whiff of the scent that swarmed around him. Her eyebrows shot up. She heard the water running from the bathroom sink as he washed his hands and she rested a hand on her hip, eyes narrowed as she waited for him to come back to the living room again. As soon as he did, her chin jutted up his way.

"Hope at least they were generously tipped."

Jeremy and Lizzie couldn't hold back their laughter at that, the two a sputtering mess on the couch as they caught the same hint of perfume she did, the unnatural blend of lavender and oils and sweat.

Dark blue eyes narrowed and sharply met her accusatory stare, the crease in his eyebrows digging deeper. "What?"

"You reek of Ursula's brothel!" She pointed her scissors at him. Jeremy was wheezing. Ollie was growing pale.

Kaden blinked, lips parting to answer but caught off guard when the ruckus on his right eleviated. His eyes skipped to the two clowns, arching an eyebrow at the state they were in. "I'm inclined to ask how you two know that."

Lizzie coughed, her stomach cramping. "Hey, you're the one who's got explaining to do," she rebutted.

Kaden merely shrugged. "It's not what you think."

Jeremy tried to breathe, wiping stray tears from his cheeks, and fanning his face. Lizzie was out of breath. Kaden looked pointedly at their theatrical performance, growing annoyed. They really did have the flair for the dramatic.

Joe shook her head. "Whatever you say." She shot him a dismissive look. "As long as you wash up, big boy."

His face scrunched in disgust at her poor choice of nickname, heading back to the bathroom. "Fuck's sake."

When he was done, he came back out to find Joe sweeping the last of Ollie's blond hair off the ground. The living room was now empty and quiet, save for the sound of bristles scraping the flooring, and the only source of light being the lantern stationed on the fireplace's mantel. Joe must've turned the lights off when everyone left, saving up on electricity. He sighed, switching the lights back on, blooming the living room back with the golden hue of the bulb.

"Right on time." Joe's voice was quiet as she offered a smile, ushering at the now empty chair. "Sit."

He quietly padded his way over, taking a seat. "It always feels like I'm sitting on an interrogation chair, no matter how old I am," he commented, taking the discarded towel to wrap it around his shoulder, the few drops of water traveling down the length of the strands and plopping softly on the cotton.

"Good then." Joe positioned herself behind him, fingers doing their usual ministration as they felt the length. "I have a weapon too, so beware."

He stared at the razor as she moved to grasp it in her hands, the metal rusting. "That old thing?" He pointed out just as she began her task, sliding the razor gently against the back of his neck, straightening the edges, and barely trimming the rest. "We seriously need to buy a new one."

Joe chuckled. "We don't have to replace everything just 'cause we now can, Kade."

He frowned. "Why not?"

They've had that razor for almost twelve years. They had first bought it the moment they knew people would easily prey on Ollie because of his long hair. They had once put them in knots so bad Joe had to buy the razor to cut them. Going to a salon and paying for that was not an option when she could buy a razor for much cheaper. After that, she practiced cutting everyone's hair, and it became a tradition.

"I don't know," she mumbled, the sound of the razor louder than her voice. "I like having the reminder, I guess. That one's special. Remember how badly Ollie's hair turned out after that first time?"

Kaden chuckled, the image of Ollie's tight smile and wide eyes as he lied to Joe's face, telling her he loved them, unable to wipe the excitement in her eyes. "He was traumatized."

"He was not." Joe pushed the razor back to shoot him an indignant look through the mirror. Kaden's eyebrows shot up, ushering for her to focus with a jut of his chin yet unable to fight his smile. "Well at least he hid it better than Jer," Joe went on, evening the edges behind his ear. "That little rat straight up cried."

"Lizzie was too scared to go."

"Fuck's sake, she didn't let me cut it until I tied her up to the chair two years later because of how long it got. The bathroom was getting clogged like crazy. Fucking nightmare."

They both silently laughed at the memory. Lizzie's screams had alarmed the boys and they had run up to the living room thinking of the worst, only to find a crying Lizzie tied around the chair with a rope and chunks of hair raining around her on the ground.

"Can you blame her? It was uneven for weeks. It could've been worse had Ursula not offered to teach you how to cut it."

"She didn't offer - she forced me. She almost grabbed me by the hair, she was furious."

Joe gently placed the razor away, taking the scissors and snipping at the strands threading his cheeks. "Speaking of," she began, and Kaden's eyes flickered to study her reflection expectantly. "Mind explaining why you were there?" There was silence and Joe added, to lighten the mood, "did she finally hook you up with Lyla? That woman's been trying to get into your pants for years."

Kaden stared at her through the mirror, dumbfounded. "Huh?"

Joe flicked his forehead, a scowl on her face. "Of course, you're so oblivious it's painful to watch."

He didn't tolerate the abuse, shooting her a dark look through the strands that shadowed his eyes. Joe could feel his glower and a smirk pulled at her lips, letting the gears of his brain work through the silence. Maybe he could finally connect the dots of that poor woman's interest in him.

A soft sigh blew out of his nose after a moment. "Ursula needed help with something."

Well, maybe not.

"Ah." She nodded, understanding she couldn't ask about the details. "Did she pay you?"

"She tried," he dryly remarked about her attempts, as if he was going to let her.

When he had refused to take any money from her, she made a show of gesturing to the lines of rooms right outside her office, arguing that she'll have one of her women repay him then. When he had said no, she had suggested: 'or men.' Kaden had the same answer to that, which had made her confused. He had ended the discussion with, 'it's nothing', because he already felt like he owed her for the years she had indirectly looked after them, even if it was from afar. Ursula, and the rest of the people here at Burlington. Zachary, Nico, Otto, and many more... it was a long list of dues.

And he intended to pay them all back, by any means necessary.

"Right." Joe chuckled, dropping the topic then. She placed the scissors back on the stool, taking the towel off his shoulders and shaking the hair out of it. She took the shaving brush and flickered it around the back of his neck, removing the small dark hair that peppered his skin. "My turn."

She tapped his shoulder once and Kaden pushed himself off the seat, feet stepping on the discarded dark strands. Joe hopped on the seat, eyes studying her reflection and fingers threading through her blonde hair, the brown roots proof that it wasn't her natural color. Kaden took the broom by the wall and cleaned in the meantime, molding the discarded hair into a neat pile before pushing them all into the dustpan.

Kaden turned once done, blinking when he caught Joe staring at him. He was swamped in his task that he hadn't noticed she was still there. He frowned. "Why didn't you go wash up?"

"I'll go once we're done."

"I'm not touching dirty hair."

"Relax." She laughed. "I took a shower before my shift."

"That was hours ago." He ignored how she kept laughing, despite the stern expression on his face. "I'm dead serious."

"Just wash your hands when you're done-Kaden." She caught hold of his elbow, pulling him to stand behind her, shoulders shaking as she sputtered out in laughter still.

He stared down at her hair, lips curled up in disgust. He moved to the open kitchen and Joe's mouth hung in shock. She turned in her seat, following him with her eyes stretched wide. He opened the drawer, and she slapped her forehead when she saw him taking out gloves.

"Kaden! It's not dirty!"

"I'm not taking your word for it," he mumbled, the nitrile material of the glove stretching against the shape of his hands.

"I can't believe you." Those were the gloves she would use to protect herself against the chemicals of hair dye, and he was wearing them to shield himself from germs. "I'm so mad right now." She shook her head, the wide smile on her face indicating the complete opposite, but she couldn't stop the shocked laugh of indignation as it escaped her throat.

Kaden's fingers laced through the hoops of the scissors' handle, and he examined her hair.

"The usual?" He remarked lamely.

She heaved a sigh, catching her breath and studying the strands that fell a few inches from her ear. He arched an eyebrow when she pursed her lips, her green eyes sparkling in mischief as an idea popped into her head. "How about shorter."

________

Notes:

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let me know what you think of the relationship between the characters, who's your favorite till now?

need your opinion: this chapter was a little long, 3.7K words. do you prefer them shorter?

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merci merci

Jana