{"id":196,"date":"2022-10-25T21:50:29","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T13:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/?p=196"},"modified":"2023-06-22T21:56:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T13:56:50","slug":"the-graveyard-shift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/196\/","title":{"rendered":"the graveyard shift"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Robin really did take great pleasure in giving her juniors a little scare every now and again. Their reactions to her morbid stories were truly amusing; they never expected it, every single time.<\/p>\n

Which was why when Robin was presented an opportunity for a scare, she was quick to grasp it.<\/p>\n

It was the graveyard shift at Straw Hat Eats when Robin had an opportune moment. She was manager of the fast food restaurant\u2014it was only a temporary position, she was helping out her husband Franky, while he looked for a new manager. She was joined by two other employees Usopp and Nami. Usopp had finished his shift, but had been deep in intense conversation with Nami and a customer. That customer happened to be Luffy. He was a regular that you could never get rid of. Not that Robin wanted to, she was ridiculously fond of the guy. Everyone was, if Franky\u2019s reports were anything to go by. And he was Zoro’s boyfriend, Zoro being the delivery guy.<\/p>\n

A shriek rang out, causing Robin to look up from her phone. The high pitch of it she assumed it was Nami, but nope, there was Usopp with wide eyes and a hand over his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cEh, what\u2019s the big deal, Usopp?\u201d Luffy said, munching on some fries.<\/p>\n

Usopp pointed past Luffy\u2019s head to outside the window of the fast food restaurant. \u201cI think I saw something out there,\u201d Usopp said.<\/p>\n

Nami\u2019s head whipped around so quickly that Robin was sure Nami would get whiplash. \u201cWhat? Where?\u201d Nami said, her voice getting higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut there!\u201d Usopp said, all panicky. \u201cI saw something move!\u201d<\/p>\n

Luffy turned his head to look, sucking on his soda straw. \u201cHuh, what\u2019s the big deal? I don\u2019t see anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-it was probably nothing, right? Let\u2019s just forget about it.\u201d Nami\u2019s voice was quivering. She turned to Robin. \u201cRight, Robin?\u201d<\/p>\n

But Nami turned to the wrong person for reassurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Robin said, finger on her chin. \u201cBut then again there is the tale of the Hash-Slinging Slasher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hash-Slinging Slasher!?\u201d Usopp and Nami said in unison. Robin took enjoyment in their reactions, watching them cling to one another. No, she wasn\u2019t a sociopath. She just liked a good scary prank.<\/p>\n

Luffy\u2019s eyes were lit up in excitement. \u201cThe Hash-Slinging Slasher? Who\u2019s that?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Usopp gulped. \u201cWho\u2026 who\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, this was good. Robin really didn\u2019t need anymore encouragement. \u201cAre you sure you really want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami and Usopp exchanged a worried glance. \u201cMaybe we shouldn\u2019t\u2026\u201d Nami said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I wanna know!\u201d Luffy said, huffing. \u201cYou guys can just go away if you don\u2019t wanna listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp shook his head. He stood up tall, hands firmly planted on the table. \u201cNo. This is something we should know about,\u201d he said, puffing out his chest. He turned to Nami with an affirmative nod. \u201cWe can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami looked doubtful, but eventually relented. \u201cFine. But I\u2019m blaming you if I end up traumatised,\u201d she said. Steeling herself, she turned to Robin. \u201cTell us, Robin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, how these poor young people had trusted the wrong person.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should warn you, this is based on a true story,\u201d Robin said. Masking her amusement as much as possible, Robin started her story. \u201cMany years ago, when this restaurant was called something different, there was a young man who worked as a fry cook just like you, Usopp. But he was very impatient, and because of that something awful happened\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe fed someone raw meat?\u201d Usopp asked.<\/p>\n

Robin shook her head. \u201cWorse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t practise safe hygiene?\u201d Nami asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven worse. He opened the lid of the patty grill two minutes early to check if the patties were ready. But he slipped and his arm ended up on the grilling surface while the grill lid came down on top too. He lost his forearm that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami and Usopp squealed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder if anyone ate those burgers that night,\u201d Luffy said, his face in deep thinking mode.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuffy!\u201d Nami said before whacking him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cA very valid question, Luffy. But one we will never know the answer to. Unless his ghost appears,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cG-ghost?\u201d Usopp said.<\/p>\n

Robin nodded. \u201cShall I continue the story?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d Luffy cheered while Usopp nodded meekly. Nami was clenching her fists tight in her lap. Robin took pity on them and considered dimming it down a bit. Just a bit, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he was at the hospital, they replaced his forearm with a spatula.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luffy gasped. \u201cWow, really? That\u2019s cool! I wonder if they could change my hand into something useful\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami scoffed. \u201cYou idiot, that\u2019s obviously fake.\u201d She started to relax a bit, not nearly as tense. \u201cThat\u2019s too absurd to be scary,\u201d she said. Usopp nodded in agreement, though the way his eyes kept darting around the restaurant suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Robin continued. \u201cA few weeks later when he was healed, he was crossing the road out front of this very restaurant when\u2026\u201d Robin slammed her hands onto the counter. \u201dBam!\u201d All three of her audience jumped. \u201cA bus hit him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWoah!\u201d Luffy said, his eyes wide. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin shook her head. \u201cSadly, he didn\u2019t make it. And to make matters worse, when they were holding his funeral, the manager of the restaurant here before Straw Hat Eats fired him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp raised an eyebrow. \u201cUh\u2026 He was dead, though?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps. But being a fry cook was his whole identity and motivation in life. The cheapskate manager stripped him of his fry cook pride, honour, and of his spatula hand, intending to pass the spatula onto the next fry cook.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luffy hummed, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. \u201cI get it. Because of that, his ghost form wouldn\u2019t be able to pass peacefully. Always missing a part of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin loved Luffy\u2019s additions. She never expected him to help so much, but he was. And he was making it better bit by bit.<\/p>\n

With a nod, Robin continued. \u201cLuffy\u2019s right. And now, every Tuesday\u2014just like today\u2014 his ghost makes an appearance at Straw Hat Eats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp gulped. \u201cHow will we know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, this was good. They were playing right into Robin\u2019s hands. \u201cThere will be three signs. First,\u201d she held up a single finger, \u201cthe lights will flicker on and off.\u201d She held up a second finger. \u201cSecond, the phone will ring but there will be nobody on the line.\u201d And finally a third finger. \u201cThird, after he arrives in the ghost of the bus that ran him over, he bangs loudly on the window!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami was hugging her knees. \u201cThen what happens?\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin dropped her volume, gesturing for them all to come close. \u201cThey say\u2026\u201d She looked at them, all three of them were engrossed, huddled together. \u201cHe gets you!\u201d Robin said, raising her voice significantly and grabbing hold of Luffy\u2019s arm. The effect it had was worth it, as Usopp and Nami jumped backwards with a scream, clinging to one another. Luffy burst into laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously, Robin! Was that really necessary?\u201d Nami said, after she had calmed. Usopp nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

Robin smiled. \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was great!\u201d Luffy said. \u201cNow it\u2019s my turn!\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp put a hand over Luffy\u2019s mouth. \u201cNope. That\u2019s it. No more scary stories,\u201d he said. He quickly pulled his hand back. \u201cEw, don\u2019t lick my hand, Luffy! Go do that to your boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luffy laughed. \u201cZoro\u2019s not back yet!\u201d But he complied with Usopp and changed the topic to action movies. Robin tuned out, satisfied after spooking her juniors.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u2014<\/p>\n

However, an hour later actual<\/em> spooky stuff started to happen. Stuff that Robin had not anticipated, and probably had a logical explanation, but played right into her hands anyway.<\/p>\n

The lights flickered on and off.<\/p>\n

\u201cDodgy lights, huh?\u201d Luffy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly,\u201d Robin said. \u201cOr it could be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp and Nami, who had been playing on their phones, looked up.<\/p>\n

Robin held up a single finger. \u201cSign number one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp and Nami exchanged a glance, their eyes widening. \u201cThe hash-slinging slasher!\u201d they cried at the same time, holding onto one another.<\/p>\n

Luffy\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cOh, yeah! I forgot about him! Do you reckon he\u2019ll show? I wanna ask him if ghosts poop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp karate chopped Luffy\u2019s head. \u201cNo, we don\u2019t want him to come, idiot!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOw,\u201d Luffy said, rubbing his sore head. He whacked Usopp back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d Usopp said, his turn to rub his sore head. \u201cThat hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood!\u201d Luffy said, jumping out of reach when Usopp tried to whack his arm. Usopp didn\u2019t give up though and chased Luffy around the whole restaurant. Luffy, chaotic as ever, pulled out chairs and tables to slow Usopp down. Robin should\u2019ve probably intervened but it was god knows what hour and it was her only entertainment.<\/p>\n

That was until the phone started ringing.<\/p>\n

Nami answered it without a second thought. But Usopp immediately froze before slowly turning in Nami\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Straw Hat Eats. How may I help you?\u201d Nami said, but she was frowning. \u201cHello? Anyone there? Fine. I\u2019m hanging up. Ugh.\u201d She hung up the phone, cursing about prank calls.<\/p>\n

But when she looked across at Usopp, her eyes widened in horror.<\/p>\n

Usopp was holding up two trembling fingers. \u201cSign number two,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nami gulped, turning to Robin. \u201cRobin! Help us! That\u2019s two signs already!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing I can do unfortunately,\u201d Robin said, which technically wasn\u2019t a lie. But she was very fascinated by how this was all playing out. It was a very strange series of coincidences indeed. She did take pity on her juniors, but seeing as they were in no real harm, she wasn\u2019t heavily concerned.<\/p>\n

Luffy sat back down in his usual spot and was fiddling with the straw. \u201cDo you think we will need one of those ouija board things to speak with him?\u201d Luffy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Robin said. She looked over at Usopp and Nami who appeared more on edge than Robin assumed they would be. They were huddled together and their eyes darted around the restaurant. It was amusing but even Robin was not that<\/em> much of a sadist. Yes, she enjoyed spooking them a little, but seeing them as visibly distraught as they were was the total opposite of amusing. She decided to take pity on them, admitting to herself that maybe she had taken this too far.<\/p>\n

Robin approached the pair and sat down at the table with them. \u201cThe story wasn\u2019t real,\u201d Robin said. \u201cIt was a complete fabrication that I came up with on the spot. You\u2019re completely safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, but.. the signs!\u201d Usopp said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a strange coincidence, I assure you. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a non-morbid, completely rational explanation for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami shook her head. \u201cNuh-uh. These things don\u2019t just happen. Robin, I appreciate what you\u2019re trying to do, but these things don\u2019t just happen!\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin gave a small smile. \u201cIf that\u2019s what you believe.\u201d She had tried. She went back to Luffy near the counter and heard Usopp trying to convince Nami everything would be okay.<\/p>\n

\u201cAwww, it wasn\u2019t real? I can\u2019t ask the ghost if he poops?\u201d Luffy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you can still try your chances with a ouija board,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah. Maybe later when Nami and Usopp aren\u2019t being babies,\u201d Luffy said. And while he was one to freely speak his mind with no filter, Robin believed he did sometimes have some secret intention behind the things he said. Such as this, his attempt at getting Nami and Usopp to stop being scared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not babies!\u201d Nami said. \u201cWe\u2019re perfectly rational and trying to ensure our safety! If you were smart you would be too!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so!\u201d Luffy said, laughing. This did it for Usopp, as he got up from where he was and started chasing Luffy around the restaurant, equipped with one of the restaurant\u2019s current children\u2019s meal toy: a slingshot. He managed to shoot the three rubber balls at Luffy with surprisingly perfect accuracy, all three hitting their target. Once he was out of balls, though, Luffy turned around and started chasing him. The two fell into laughter as they parkour\u2019d around the restaurant chasing one another. It really was not the way an employee and customer should conduct themselves and was definitely against the restaurant policies, but Robin wasn\u2019t fazed; Franky knew what they were all like. Robin did wonder, though, where young people these days found the energy to behave like this during a graveyard shift.<\/p>\n

Their game was interrupted by the sound of a large vehicle passing by. The insufficient street lighting only made the silhouettes of whatever out there visible. And the vehicle appeared to be\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cA bus?\u201d Nami said, standing up. \u201cThere are no buses on this route at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usopp\u2019s turned his attention to outside, too. \u201cWhy did it stop?\u201d Usopp said. He turned to Nami. \u201cWhy would it stop?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nami gulped. \u201cIt\u2019s not\u2026 It couldn\u2019t be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSign number three!\u201d Luffy said.<\/p>\n

Robin had to admit, these coincidences sure were entertaining. How they had played out like this, she had no idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cRobin, please tell me this is all part of an elaborate prank you set up,\u201d Usopp said, his voice wavering.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Usopp. I would not go to these lengths for a prank,\u201d Robin said, which was true. It was a pity she couldn\u2019t comfort them. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

But then the light right outside the restaurant flickered off.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit,\u201d Usopp repeated. Nami quickly joined in as they both ran to hide behind the restaurant counter.<\/p>\n

There was a loud banging on the front window.<\/p>\n

Usopp and Nami shrieked, but even their curiosity out won their fear as they kept their eyes just above the counter to see.<\/p>\n

Luffy was grinning. \u201cIs it the ghost!?\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin was curious too. She wasn\u2019t one to get scared easily, but it was about time they put an end to this charade (before her juniors both had a heart attack and sued the place). (Usopp wouldn\u2019t but Nami probably would. Girl loved her money.)<\/p>\n

Grabbing a heavy flashlight that could double as a baton, Robin gestured for Luffy to come with her. There was power in numbers, after all, but she was hoping it was just a single lost drunk person.<\/p>\n

Luffy happily came along to investigate. When they got to the front window, Robin shone the flashlight, unsure what to expect. The light shone through the window, finally revealing the truth.<\/p>\n

And she lost it laughing. So did Luffy.<\/p>\n

It was Zoro. But what on earth was he doing?<\/p>\n

Luffy rushed to open the restaurant door. \u201cWhat are you doing, Zoro? The door\u2019s this way! Don\u2019t tell me you couldn\u2019t find it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoro quickly came inside. \u201cWell, the light went out! How was I to know!\u201d Luffy just laughed and pressed a kiss to Zoro\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

Robin could hear Nami and Usopp\u2019s sighs of relief as they joined them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re late back, Zoro,\u201d Nami said, narrowing her eyes. Was she still suspicious of something?<\/p>\n

Zoro shrugged his jacket off, which was partially torn. It also appeared he had collected some fresh minor wounds. Just what had happened?<\/p>\n

\u201cShut it, you\u2019re not my boss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I am,\u201d Robin said. \u201cAnd I would like to know, too.\u201d It wasn\u2019t unusual for Zoro to get back late, he was constantly getting lost, but he was usually free of any injuries. The injuries concerned her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy bet is he got lost!\u201d Usopp said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa!\u201d Nami laughed. \u201cAnyone who would oppose you on that bet is a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoro glared at Nami and Usopp briefly, before taking a seat at a table. \u201cFine.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI had finished making my delivery and was on the way back when some asshole made me crash my bike into a power line, which kind of fucked up the surrounding street lights and what not. So I tried calling the restaurant and I heard Nami answer but she couldn\u2019t hear me? I thought maybe I had muted myself accidentally but I didn\u2019t know how to fix that. But anyway, a guy with an empty party bus drove past shortly after. He saw me stranded and brought me and my bike here. And then\u2026 when I got here the light was out so I couldn’t see and banged on the windows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin nodded. \u201cFirst and foremost, are you okay?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhat injuries did you sustain?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoro shrugged. \u201cJust minor cuts and bruises. I was lucky. It could\u2019ve been a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would recommend you still go get checked over by a doctor,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n

Luffy nodded. \u201cYou say you\u2019re fine, but Chopper always says you\u2019re not indestructible. I\u2019ll take Zoro there once we leave here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d Zoro said as he pulled Luffy over to sit on his lap. \u201cMissed you,\u201d he said, tilting Luffy\u2019s chin down to press a brief kiss to Luffy\u2019s lips. Luffy smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh, PDA alert,\u201d Usopp said, but he didn\u2019t really care if the fond smile on his face was anything to go by. Robin remembered how relieved Usopp had been when Luffy and Zoro finally got together. Their obliviousness to each other\u2019s feelings had been more frustrating to watch than anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh,\u201d Nami said. \u201cThe signs really make sense now. That is freakishly coincidental, though.\u201d After a moment Nami\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cRobin, are you sure you don\u2019t have the power of foresight? We could totally start selling your readings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robin chuckled. \u201cNo thanks.\u201d Only Nami could do a complete 180 from feeling scared to feeling capitalistic.<\/p>\n

Nami hummed. \u201cWhich powerline by the way, Zoro?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoro scratched his head. \u201cUh. One near Baratie?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was dead silence as Robin, Usopp, and Nami all stared at him. \u201cWhat,\u201d Nami said.<\/p>\n

Zoro frowned. \u201cWhat\u2019s the issue?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy the heck were you near there? That\u2019s in the opposite direction to here!\u201d Usopp said.<\/p>\n

Zoro rubbed the back of his neck. \u201cUh.. well. The roads changed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Luffy laughed loudly and hugged Zoro tightly. \u201cZoro got lost!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell us something we don\u2019t know,\u201d Nami said, as they all broke into laughter. Even Zoro couldn\u2019t resist. Luffy\u2019s laughter was infectious.<\/p>\n

They were a rowdy unpredictable bunch to have as company, but Robin wouldn\u2019t have them any other way. She could see the graveyard shift becoming her favourite. As for the scary stories? Well, a change of targets was in order, she thought while watching Luffy and Zoro share a drink. It would be a bit more difficult to spook them, but Robin wasn\u2019t one to back down from a challenge.<\/p>\n

Who said graveyard shifts were boring?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Robin enjoyed spooking her juniors during the graveyard shift, but even she hadn’t anticipated for spooky things to actually start happening.<\/p>\n

or the Hash-Slinging Slasher AU (from SpongeBob) that nobody asked for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[50,28,18],"fandom":[13],"rating":[3],"ship":[14,51],"class_list":["post-196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gen","tag-based-on-a-spongebob-squarepants-episode","tag-humour","tag-modern-au","fandom-one-piece","rating-teen","ship-zolu","ship-nami-usopp","wpautop"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions\/198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}