Chapter Text
A light shower of rain hit the windows. The day was drained in the sky’s tears. Well, that’s how Alice saw it. He stood there idle, he hated days like this, the lack of customers would drive him insane. He didn’t like to be alone nor be left to his thoughts for hours on end.
The weather didn’t seem to get any better that day. He sighed absentmindedly. Alice glanced around the quiet café,he grew more impatient by the second,he spotted a man in the corner of the cozy café. A regular,that said regular seemed rooted into his seat,he stared intently at his laptop, which laid there, as still as stone. The small clicks the man made as he typed drove Alice up the wall.
Alice tried to ignore it through gritted teeth. Though, his good hearing was just a massive ‘fuck you’ to him. He scowled, such a useful gift, yet the worst curse for an irritable man like himself.
The young barista continued to stare off into the distance. His thoughts drifted back to when he was young. He let out a wistful sigh,he probably shouldn’t think of that when he’s at work.
A loud jingle snapped Alice out of his train of thought. He jolted upright,a little startled,he keeked a glance towards the entrance out of curiosity. He saw a gorgeous man with short black hair. He felt his throat go dry at the sight of the mystery man.
The man gave a quick look over the room, he seemed tense. When he spotted the regular in the corner of the store, he appeared to relax. The man ambled towards the table,his hands stuffed into his black pockets,his posture causally lax.
Alice deflated at that,he didn’t want to stand around all day or eavesdrop on their conversation,if they were to have one. “They seemed like they were in a shitty mood.” Alice mumbled meekly to himself, as soon as the words slipped out,Alice cursed himself out. He needed to work on keeping his thoughts in his thick skull.
“Sara Chidouin,” One of the men said. “Her father, I think...” The man spoke so quietly Alice couldn’t pick up. Though, the the topic had peeked his interest.
After that,Alice heard nothing else. Only small cracks of words which he didn’t care much for. He frowned softly, his shift ended in an hour. An hour. He could last that long. He hoped.
A soft shuffle came from the entrance of the kitchen. Small,petite hands suddenly grab at Alice, he froze. There was Mai, her warm hands wrapped around his waist. “Alice, Reko’s picking on me again..tell her to stop!” She pouted as she squeezed his him,her sharp nails dig into his hips.
“Get your fucking nails out of me,” He sucked in a breath of pain. “And I’ll tell Reko to stop.” He didn’t like it when Mai did this, it made him a tad uncomfortable.
With those words. Mai removed her hands from his waist and clapped. “Alrightie!” She exclaimed loudly. “I should squeeze your waist more often if you react like this! Joking...well,if you want me to..” she winked, a snide smirk on her face.
“If you were dating someone who could beat me up: I would have punched you by now.” Alice deadpanned, this made Mai’s grin turn into a wide smile.
“Now, now.” She swatted at him playfully, a cocky grin on her face. “I could probably kick your ass in a fight.”
“I doubt that.” Alice narrowed his eyes at Mai, a scowl on his face. “You’re like a tiny doll.” Alice turned to face the woman, his eyebrow quirked.
Mai gasped dramatically. “What are you insinuating?!” Her hands on her hips. “That I’m frail and weak? I could kick you ass. No, I will kick your ass one day.” She scoffed at him.
“Keep dreaming, sunshine.” Alice rolled his eyes, his arms crossed. “Now, get back to work.” He shook his head.
—-
A high schooler and a middle schooler stood in a toy shop. The middle schooler twiddled her thumbs, she started to grow impatient. They had been in the shop for awhile now.
“Joe..” Kanna said, a light wariness to her voice. “When can we go to that little shop like you promised to Kanna?” The young girl pouted as she grabbed at her babysitter.
“I told you,” Joe smiled. “I need to find a gift to give to Ryoko.” He looked at the small nicknacks. He pondered on what he should get for his crush.
“Joeee, Kanna wants to go...” the young girl pleaded, she tugged at his sleeve, a frown on her pale face. “We’ve been here for ages...” She gave him puppy eyes.
“Fine, fine!” Joe shook his head, he sighed softly. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled a few dollars. He held it out for Kanna to take. “You can go over to the café and get something out of that. Alright?”
Kanna looked at him and pouted. She took the change without a second thought. “Kanna won’t forgive you....and...don’t leave Kanna alone for too long. Okay?” She mumbled softly. She stared at her feet, she felt anxious.
Joe smiled softly. “I promise.” With that Kanna gave him a shy smile. She scurried towards the entrance of the shop. Joe looked back at the shelves. He put his hands on his hips, there was a lot he could chose from.
He looked for a few more minutes. Though, nothing peaked his interest.
A soft shuffle from behind him snapped him out of his daze. “Hey!” A masculine voice said, his voice husky.
“Mm—“ Joe glanced behind him to see a man, he looked like he was about to go to prison or just got out of it.
“You.” The man glared at Joe, it made the teenage want to shit himself. “I need your help.” The man spoke as if he had the blood of another on his hands.
“Mm, I’d be down.” Joe smiled at the stranger. “Depends on what is it, though.” Joe kind of, kind of, hoped he would help hide a body. That would be cool.
“I Umm...” The man seemed a bit flustered. “I need help getting something for a,uh, crush.”
Joe gaped. “Say what,bro? Same! Woah, small world, huh?”
“You sound like a rat that’s retarded.” The man suddenly deadpanned, Joe held his heart. Hurt by the word’s of a stranger.
“Ouch,bro. No need to be so cruel.” Joe crooned playfully, the man gave him a disgusted look.
“Oi, shaddup!” The man scowled, he crossed his muscular arms and huffed. “Anyways, can you help me or not?”
“I can!?” Joe clasped his hands together, unsure of what was wrong with him. “So, did you have anything in mind, bro?”
“I did.” The bulk grinned coyly. He pulled something out of his pocket, a cheap friendship necklace. “Though, I can’t afford it..” He deflated at that.
“Oh...um, maybe we can split the cost?” Joe smiled. “I can have one half, you can have the other, bro!”
“That’s....that’s a brilliant idea!” The man grinned wickedly. “I’m impressed with how smart you are. You seem like you are as stupid as rock.”
“I know,bro, I know.” Joe nodded in agreement, he was very intelligent.