Tip of the Day

Shadow sighed as he worked through his busy work shift, running from table to table, helping his guests.  The tall black dragon was a waiter for a lovely café in a busy part of New York, the place wasn’t five star, but it still had the reputation of having the best steaks in town.  Shadow had started a few weeks ago and quickly fallen into to the swing of things, easily maintaining his customers and earning good tips.  
	The tall black dragon stood around six feet wearing his snappy attire.  The uniform was very becoming of the dragon just for the fact it was a bright white with a black apron, matching his scales quite well.  His tail danced behind him as he worked, the day moving quickly when the place was packed until the lunch rush was over only a few tables lingering.  Shadow giving a relieved sigh as he stretched his wings happily relieved to be almost done for the day. A sudden paw hit the dragon on the shoulder just beside his wings, making him turn to meet a fellow co-worker. 
A smaller fellow by a few inches smiled happily to his friend, wearing the same identical outfit.  Iron Gut or just Iron was a anthro great white shark, with a few unique features that made him stand out of the crowd.  The name wasn’t just for show, mostly because of the firm belly the shark was sporting, if not for the strict dress code of the restaurant Iron would gladly show off his smooth gut.  The coloring of his friend made him rather eye catching as well, his lower snout, chest, down the front of his body was a creamy white while the rest of the his form was a light red.  
	“Aren’t you done yet draggy? We aren’t going to get many more tables today…” Iron grinned, giving his friend another light slap.  “Besides, the boss told me to tell you it was quitting time.  And that I should punch out too. So, you know what that means."  listening to the shark Shadow only laughed at the news and comment,  happy to be off and knowing what his friend meant.  
	“Hehe, so what are you going to get today…?” He grinned and poked that clothed belly making it ripple in a cute way.  The restaurant was very kind to its employees. Offering them lunch and dinner after their shifts if they so choose.  Thinking about his own meal he raised a brow as the shark started to hand him something.  
	“Oh ya, this was on your last table Shadow…looks like they wanted to tip you in candy and not cash.” Iron chuckled handing the small mint and check slip over to the dragon, who growled from the news.  “As for what I’m having I’m going to tackle a steak today…mmm.” The large jaws drooling at the thought before he turned and waved. “I’ll be in the back, don’t keep me waiting too long now.” Shadow was about to reply till the shark slipped into the kitchen.
	Looking down at his wonderful tip Shadow only gave another snort and growl of disgust, wondering why people thought it was okay to give him something that had no value. Setting the candy and his tips aside the dragon started to clean up his work area, wanting to finish as fast as possible so that he could join Iron for a much needed lunch, licking his scaled lips.  
	Sitting down to count out his cash for the day, he lifted the mint and unwrapped it slowly before shrugging, the foil falling to the floor. “Well it was a tip…might as well enjoy it...” he thought to himself as he lightly suckled on the candy for a moment, it's strong flavor washing over his tongue. A strange sensation started to creep up Shadow’s spine shortly after he made his way to the back of the kitchen, shaking his head not too concerned.  The effects were very slow unnoticed by the ebony dragon as his body shrank a few inches.  The wrapper carelessly left on the floor had a clear message written inside “Joke Candy: Shrink your friends today! Use with Caution!”  
	Turning in his money and striping himself of his apron, the scaled being walked up to the kitchen line, wanting to order his food knowing Iron was probably ready to dig into his meal.  The heavy feeling hit his body once again as Shadow bit into the mint within his maw, making him suddenly dizzy while his body shrank a good four feet, leaving him in a pile of his own clothes as his body continued to grow smaller.  
	“Damnit! Is someone running around naked again…” A loud voice yelled from clear across the kitchen, making the dragon peek out from his clothing in a bit of fear.  His boss, a rather tall orca by even normal standards striding into view to glare accusingly staff members milling around the kitchen.  Only getting several shrugs from a few cooks in the back.  Gathering the clothes in a huff he started his way back to his office.  
	The now tiny dragon held on tightly to his work clothes as they were lifted high off the ground below, unaware to Kyoma as the clothes were so roughly held.  Thinking it was best to get someone’s attention, the dragon now only little more then half an inch flew out of his uniform and onto one of the large counter tops.  Sighing Shadow looked around in meek confusion, unable to understand what had happened.  Looking at himself he quickly noted he was nude only his scales showing as he blushed madly and looked for cover, his mind not really taking in the full impact of his situation.  
	A moment later Shadow watched in dazed awe as the massive Orca made it's way back to the counter he was resting on, with a rag in hand. His heart soaring as he realized his boss was probably about to start wiping things down for the night. Because if there was one thing that he had learned about Kyoma, it was that the orca was a stickler for details when it came to cleaning.  Kyoma would see him, without a doubt. He just had to make sure that he didn't get swept off the counter first.  Fortunately, it looked like Kyoma was starting on the far side of the counter. Which gave him plenty of time to slip from hiding and sprint into view. His nudity all but forgotten in his excitement as he jumped up and down and waved his arms like a crazy dragon. "Kyoma! Down Here!" He shouted, trying to get his attention. 
	Meanwhile Kyoma gave a weary sigh as he started wipe under and around the various items on the counter. It had been an unusually busy day for the restaurant.  And more than ever he was very greatful to have hired Shadow. Who had quickly proved himself to be an invaluable asset to the staff. The Orca making a mental note to thank the dragon for all his hard work the next time he saw him when he  noticed a small bug crawling around the other end of the counter. "Stupid little thing, doesn't even have the sense to stay out of the open." He mused almost sadly as he casually made his way over, wiping his rag over the metal surface until he was within reach. And then ever so slowly raising his hand to line it up for a crushing swipe.
 	Meanwhile Shadow knew he could get his boss to notice him, grinning wider as his large frame came closer and closer, till he was right above him.  The sudden look from Kyoma’s eyes told the dragon he wasn’t there to help him.  As a crashing boom came down to smash his body, his figure bouncing back just in time to have the impact throw him across the counter.  The orca following him as the dragon got up to run, spreading his wings to get away.  With a wet slap Shadow was hit on the back hard by the soaked cloth, tumbling from the air to the kitchen window.  
	“Gotcha you little bugger!” Kyoma grinned and followed the big fly to where he landed, wanting to gather up the body, can’t have anything crawling into the food.  Shaking his head a few times the dragon rose in pain looking around from the strong smell of cooked food.  Arching his wing out Shadow winced in pain, unable to fly.   
	“Order up!” a firm voice from the back called out as a large platter with a steak was set in front of the dragon, making him sniff it in pleasure. “Mm…I could eat that for a week…” he groaned to himself till a shadow covered him up.  Giving a scared meep he dashed forward and slid under the warm meat, peaking out in fear as the orca passed him by giving a sigh of relief.  
	“Mmm…that looks great” a familiar voice rang out from around the dragon, feeling his world lift and move.  The happy shark hummed to himself as he carried his plate of food to the employee’s area of the kitchen and sat down, sniffing over the well-done steak making his belly growl hungrily.  “Mm…sorry Shadow I can’t wait for you today…” he grinned and patted his heavy belly picking up his knife and fork.  
	Shadow’s form lay under the heavy steak with a panted moan, finding it much harder to get out from under the meat then it was hiding in it.  Looking up from where he was the shark’s form was just as massive as his boss eyeing hungry looks at the prize under his snout.  Trying to give a sign to his friend the dragon only frowned in dismay as the utensils were lifted, cutting into the steak easily. Luckily Iron was starting with the other end giving Shadow time to wiggle and shout watching the first bite of the meal get chewed up loudly within the maw of the great white. 
	Moaning happily at the taste Iron gripped a slim bottle of steak sauce and smothered his meaty dinner in the brownish goo, dripping down the sides to cover up the waving dragon, his pleas for help silenced.  As the shark worked through his large steak he came to the part where Shadow was stuck, slicing around him and cutting out a large chuck.  The fork plunged in deeply as he lifted it to his wide open maw, carrying the miniature dragon with it glued fast to the bottom of the meat.  
	“This is the best…” he growled as he lifted the extra large sized piece to his toothy maw,  showing off his sharp teeth, drooling tongue and wide throat hungry to receive more food to deliver to his eager belly.  Struggling wildly on the hovering slab, Shadow was unexpectedly blasted with a hot wind scented with steak sauce and meat, the loud belch deafened him for a moment as he was covered by the slick dark jaws, which curled around the meat and slid everything off the fork.  
	The green eyes of Shadow opened wide in fear as he was placed within the working maw of his good friend; the slick saliva soaked him as he fell from the bit of steak able to see clearly within the maw from his night vision.  Just as he jumped off the meat, the large fangs around his form started to chew shaking his world and making Shadow cry out in panic.  A few jumps and flips he barely missed being turned into a piece of meat himself, landing on the back of the slick tongue with a low groan.  
	 Sounds of pleasure rumbled up from the shark’s gullet, which relaxed and flexed for the on-coming steak.  Turning around to look down the wide throat, Shadow’s body was soon pushed forward by the mangled meat shoving him deep within.  Grabbing on to the sloppy mess that used to be a prime cut his scaled body was pulled down quickly into the roaring belly of the massive shark.  The trip down the muscled tunnel was tight and short, ripping the mass from the gulps and swallows, till with a plop Shadow was released into the hot hell of the acidic belly, fearing it was his end.  
	Splashing down into the goo, the churning belly didn’t make it easy for the scaled being to take control over the situation, as it constantly worked to throw him around, trying to drown him under the mess.  Unable to gain any leverage or grab on to anything he cried out loudly, muffling his tiny voice by the tons of flesh between him and the world as Iron kept up his meal. Filling his gut happily with his steak, till he belched loudly once more and rested back in his seat quite content to let his belly work on his heavy meal.  
	Panicking nicely, Shadow failed to notice that the strong acids, and lack of air was failing to harm him at all.  Taking the next several minutes to go hoarse from his screams, letting him calm down enough to think, still fearing where he was.  The movement outside the belly made him believe his large bellied friend was finished and probably heading home, not possible guessing he was stuck in the horrifying water slide that was his stomach.  
	The time within the muscular chamber soon started to crawl by as the dragon was put through the digestion of a shark, having the now unidentifiable food wash over him again and again.  The happy gurgle of the stomach only got a wide grin out of Iron, who gave it a hard slap while relaxing at home.  Pleased with such a large dinner in his gut, the reddish shark rumbled out a purr as he undressed and curled in close to his mate, a tall yellow dragon wrapping up tightly with his lovely shark, gripping his belly.  “Mmm…we can have fun tomorrow morning love…” he spoke tiredly within Iron’s ear, happy he was home.  “Sounds wonderful Drakkoid, can’t wait…” He murred and fell asleep quickly, resting peacefully.  
	Shadow was left within the belly even after the food inside was fully liquefied, drifting on his back, easily keeping above the surface.  He listened to the loving words of his co-worker and blushed, feeling like he was eavesdropping even if he had no intention of doing so.  The belly had long since gone quiet giving the dragon time to think of his escape.  
To be continued…Part two coming soon