Kyle was in the middle of chopping vegetables behind the bar when a commotion broke out among the patrons. Raised voices and the clatter of overturned chairs echoed through the tavern, the wooden floor vibrating slightly with the disturbance.

Kyle sighed, setting down his knife with a metallic clink against the wooden cutting board. Another fight breaking out at closing time. The scent of ale and roasted meat hung thick in the air as he wiped his hands on his stained apron and made his way around the bar, pushing through the crowd of rowdy patrons.

"Alright, alright, break it up!" Kyle called out, his voice cutting through the din. The two men, clearly the worse for drink, turned to face him, chests heaving and fists clenched, the smell of strong liquor emanating from them in waves.

"This bastard owes me money!" one of them slurred, jabbing a finger at his opponent with an unsteady hand.

"I've paid you back twice over, you lying sack of shit!" the other man retorted, shoving the first man's hand away forcefully.

Kyle held up his hands in a placating gesture, feeling the rough texture of his work-calloused palms. "Gentlemen, please. There's no need for violence. Let's sort this out calmly, shall we?"

He turned to the first man, noting the bloodshot eyes and unsteady stance. "How much does he owe you?"

"Five gold pieces!" the man declared loudly, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

Kyle nodded slowly, calculating the cost in his mind. "And you, sir?" He addressed the second man, who swayed slightly on his feet.

"I paid him back three gold pieces last week! I don't owe him a damn thing!"

Kyle pursed his lips, considering the situation. The tavern walls, lined with wooden barrels and tankards, seemed to close in slightly as he weighed his options. He couldn't have a brawl breaking out in his tavern every other night. It was bad for business and worse for his peace of mind.

"Very well," Kyle said, making a decision that would cost him personally. "I'll pay you the remaining two gold pieces myself, if you promise to leave quietly and not cause any more trouble."

The first man's eyes widened, momentarily sobered by the offer. "You'd do that for me?"

Kyle shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "It's my tavern. I can't have my patrons fighting each other." He retrieved two gold coins from the till, their metallic weight cool in his palm, and pressed them into the man's calloused hand. "There. Now go on, get out of here."

The man pocketed the coins and shot a triumphant look at his adversary before turning on his heel and striding unsteadily out of the tavern, the door creaking as it closed behind him.

Kyle turned to the second man, who looked slightly sheepish and embarrassed. "Thank you, sir. I really didn't mean for things to get so heated."

"I know," Kyle replied shortly, eager to put the incident behind him. "Just try to keep your debts under control in the future, eh?"

The man nodded, casting one last glance at the door before slinking off to his table, head bowed in embarrassment.

Kyle let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, feeling the tension leave his shoulders as the immediate crisis passed. He glanced around the tavern, noting that most of the other patrons had returned to their drinks and conversation, seemingly unmoved by the brief altercation, their voices creating a low murmur throughout the room.

As Kyle returned to the bar, his boots thudding softly against the wooden floor, he caught sight of a familiar figure sitting in a shadowy corner, watching the scene with a thoughtful expression. The young man who had been coming to the tavern more and more frequently over the past few months.

Kyle's heart skipped a beat, just like whenever he saw him. A flush crept up his neck despite his efforts to remain composed. He had been trying to work up the courage to talk to him, to maybe ask him out for a drink or dinner, but he was still too nervous. What if he wasn't interested? What if I made a fool of myself?

No, it was better to keep my distance. To admire him from afar and be content with brief, meaningless conversations across the bar. Kyle sighed longingly, the sound almost lost in the ambient noise of the tavern, deciding to get back to work and push down the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him.