Work Text:
The new-hire Nigel, a light orange rabbit-creature, was an intern and is a very very annoying worker.. to the clients specifically. The secretary is a light purple sheep, currently stamping a client's paper and sneaking glances at Nigel to make sure he was doing his job.
Nigel lazily stamps a client's paper and registers them in. Once checked in, he hands them their clipboard and tag. The intern groans and slumps onto the desk.
The secretary tried so hard to not roll her eyes at the young rabbit's behavior. Her ears then perked up at the sound of the hospital's front door opening.
Step,
Step,
Step.
The secretary knew who was coming—Barney. The regular white rabbit in brown plaid pants and a flat cap. He's basically a regular now, always coming here for coffee.. and they were used to it. Well- not for the newbie, he's never seen him before. And is probably gonna play with him.
Barney walks over to the check in area and stops in front of the window. He looks down at the new guy, eyes widening just a fraction from seeing a new face in the hospital night shift. He shows a calm expression, lips maybe smiling under that mustache.
Nigel glances up at him, then stands up, leaning against the desk. With an unamused look, he simply asks:
"Checking in..?'
"..Could you give me some coffee, friend? I had a loooong day..." Barney says in a low tone, a fake sweet tone.
Nigel raised a brow. Then.. he snorts.
"Pfft- coffee? What is this, Starbucks?" He crossed his arms with a smug smirk, his amusement immediately sparked back.
The secretary feels wary about the intern acting that way in front of Barney.. they never wanted him displeased because he looks like he could do something twisted as soon as they refuse to do what he asks for. Welp..
"Coffee, huh?"
Nigel grinned. He went to pour himself a mug of coffee from the coffee machine and struts back to the desk again. Barney instinctively reaches out for the coffee—until Nigel took a sloooooow sip. Not even breaking eye contact with Barney. Oh.. what a tease.
Barney felt his eye twitch. He leans back, smirking in unsurfaced annoyance. "Ohhh," he chuckled before his face darkened. "You better watch out.. I dont like being refused.." He slowly turns to leave
Clink.
The Intern had set the mug down. Still smirking smugly, tail twitching under his hoodie in pure unfiltered amusement on getting a rise out of this guy.
The leaving rabbit paused. He slowly turns his head, his eyes lands on the coffee, then reluctantly walks back to the counter. Giving him a second chance.. The secretary watches in awkward silence before going back to work, minding her own business and secretly praying for the playful idiot.
The white rabbit finally picks up the coffee mug, and begins drinking it.. only to pause when he felt a hand touch the side of the mug. Nigel. Nigel pulls it back and took another sip with absolutely no remorse. He's playing with fire with this anomaly in disguise. Barney finally cracks a smile under his mustache.. not exactly a pleased one. And not exactly threatening either.
"You like testing me, huh? How cruel.."
He crossed his arms. But maybe this newbie was actually pretty interesting. The guy wasn't intimidated of him at all.
The light orange rabbit just smirks even more against the rim of the mug. He sets it down and keeps holding it by the handle.
"Angry?"
"No,"
Barney leans forward.
"You're a brave one."
Nigel's ear twitched. He expected the taller rabbit to lash out on him or at least be pissed, just like the other clients do.. because he liked getting a rise out of people. Seems like he's getting a whole different rise out of this one.
"You don't laugh at me like that, friend. You don't drink my coffee, hand it over, then take it back right after.." Barney's tone shifting lower again. Okay, maybe that was a threat, considering the fact that he's staring right down at him. But Nigel was completely unfazed.
Instead, Nigel furrowed his brows (trying to intimidate) and leans closer—their noses bumping slightly.
"Yeah? What are you gonna do about it, stache?" He grins with his teeth, obviously liking how Barney is trying to scare him off, and is taking it as a challenge.
Barney looks surprised, and amused. Ohhh, he's the guy.. "Meet me outside when you're done with your shift."
Eh? Was Barney inviting him for a fight after shift? Bet.
"Why not now? Scared?" Nigel's ears pin back, tail wagging behind him in profound excitement. (To fight!..)
"No, just giving you time to warm up, friend..." He lets out a huff on Nigel's face before plucking the mug out of the Intern's grip and walking away. "I'll be waiting.." He secretly smirks on the way out.
Nigel chuckles and turns to the secretary, crossing his arms in disbelief and playing it as sarcasm.
"Heh, Mr. Tough Knuckles over there inviting me to a fight." He gestures with his eyes glancing at the entrance.
The secretary just watches his casualness in horror. She shakes her head slightly. "I don't think he wants to fight, Nigel.."
Maybe Barney wants a different kind of fight after seeing how rebellious this one was. It's refreshing.
And Barney couldn't help it. The intern is an idiot, or just refuses to acknowledge it.