Chapter Text
While walking through the crowded Main Street of the park Zach is trying to not get run over by couples who are looking lovingly into each others eyes and not watching where they SHOULD be watching. Like in Zach's direction. He lost count of how many times his feet were stepped on, or how many times he was knocked out of the way only to be knocked in some other direction. It's like a damn game of pinball and he is not having a fun time playing.
Heart shaped balloons bouncing off and zapping his face with their static current was really trying his already almost non existent patience.
Side stepping and dodging was becoming too much of a chore, so he started looking for someplace that held at least a small amount of space for him to collect himself.
Finding a thankfully empty nook between some shops, Zach took a breath to calm down. There is just too much going on today. Everyone is in their own happy bubbly heart shaped worlds.
He can't stand this commercialized holiday. Not only because he finds it asinine that people feel obligated to get a gift for someone they care about, or don't care about because they feel guilty that not giving one to them would be rude. The big reason being, that this day always slaps his face and reminds him how painfully alone he is. Cupid's arrow fired at point-blank strait to his heart, not to fill it with feelings of warmth and passion, but to make it sink and crack from how empty it is.
Looking around at all the decorations Masrani insisted on putting up was....just astounding. He had no idea that there were that many shades of pink.
There's pink everywhere....literally everywhere. It's assaulting to the eyes. Even the complete fossilized skeletons nearby are decorated with a pink ensemble that left a look of disgust and remorse on Zach's face. In a way he is happy that they are dead so they don't have to look at themselves dressed up in pink frilly things.
Looking around again he spots his reflection in the nearby window. "Oh come on." He brings his hands up to fix his hair that looks like he purposefully rubbed one of those heart shaped balloons on it.
As he was fixing his messy static styled hair, a man dressed up as Valentine's messenger of love, complete with the diaper, bow and arrows, and tiny wings, comes prancing up to him.
Noticing the other man's reflection in the glass, Zach glances in his direction.
"Can I help you? If you're looking for the changing station there is one in the womans bathroom."
The carbon copy of Cupid annoyingly only laughs and smiles a wide tooth smile.
Sighing Zach finally turns to the man. Giving him a once over, he crossed his arms. "Look....buddy, I'm not sure if you've noticed or not, but I'm not in the mood to deal with whatever your purpose here is."
The crazy baby man giggles and throws his arms in the air. "I'm here to spread love and cheer! To turn frowns around and to lift people up when feeling down."
Cringing with a quick shake of his head Zach sternly replies in a voice that he hopes will send his message across. "No, you're not doing that with me. You can take your delusional self and go find some other poor schmo to..." bringing his hand up for quotation marks "lift up."
"Oh, but young man, it is my job to do those things. If I cannot do my job, what am I good for?" Crazy baby still smiles.
"Being a bullies punching bag." Zach mumbled out.
With a finger to his lips Cupid finally concedes. "Very well, I can see that the blanket of moodiness..."
"Moodiness?" Zach interrupts.
The man goes on without comment. "Cannot be lifted from you. I shall leave you alone, but not before I give you this heart shaped lollipop as a means of peace." He reaches into his quiver and pulls out a large red heart shaped sugar infested lolly.
Zach reluctantly takes it and watches the man spin away to spread his creepy cheer elsewhere.
With a sigh he pulls the wrapper off and gives it a few licks before turning and sticking it to the shop window.
Shoving his hands in his pockets he decides now would be a good time to brave the crowd again and see if he can distract himself by finding some work. He figures Barry or Owen might have a job for him.
Owen....the biggest reason he doesn't like this holiday.