Chapter Text
Dave looked up at the large, tall, faded gray rocky-colored prison. This was his new job, and he hadn't expected it to be in the middle of a desert. It was hot and dry, and it made Dave feel as if there was nothing to breath in, yet his chest was still stably rising and falling. He wouldn't go unsupervised, of course. He was going to get paired up with an experienced officer for his training. The sky was a bright and vibrant blue, and there were few clouds in the sky. The firey-golden sun shone brightly and hotly. Dave was ready to go inside. Maybe it wouldn't be so hot and nerve-racking in there.
Dave approached the building, and he pushed the door open to get inside.
"Hello?" He was greeted by a feminine voice, probably the receptionist. "May I help you?"
Dave gazed up at the woman, she had short golden-blonde hair and a blue cap with glasses. She seemed decently monotone with her greeting.
"Uh, hi, I'm Dave Panpa. I'm here for my new job?" Dave introduced feeling anxiety rise within him.
"Oh, yes, David. Let me see here..." The gold-haired woman responded.
"C-Call me Dave, please." Dave corrected nervously.
"Sorry, Dave." The girl shook her head as she corrected herself.
Her fingers moved away at her keyboard, the keys clicking with each press.
"Oh yes, there you are." The woman spoke suddenly. "I'll let Rupert know you're here. He'll be mentoring you. Or, supervising, rather." She notified. "I'm Sally Cue, but please call me Sally or Ms. Cue."
"Nice to meet you." Dave tried to swallow his anxiety.
Sally reached for the walkie talkie that sat on her desk, and grabbed it, holding down on a button as it crackled to life. "Mr. Price, your apprentice is here."
Rupert Price was his name, huh? Surely he and Dave would get along just fine.
-----
Dave heard footsteps approaching, and he let his gaze lift from the patterned floor, and up to his mentor.
"Hey." His mentor greeted. He had dark smoky gray hair, very close to black, and it was spiked a little. He was tall and he had a calm voice. "You must be David Panpa?"
Dave was immediately love stricken. "D-Dave, please." He corrected.
"My bad." He shook his head. "And there's no need to be nervous, I'm sure you'll do just fine."
"O-Okay." Dave tried to push his anxiety down his throat again.
"Come along." Rupert beckoned. "I'll show you around."
-----
"And there's the shooting range. Mainly used for gun practice, as the name speaks for itself." Rupert explained.
Dave looked at the targets, trying to keep his breathing stable from the dry air, which it made him feel as if he were in space, yet still breathing. It felt if there was nothing to breathe in.
"Do you know how to fire a gun?"
Dave hesitated. "I think. I mean--- Yeah, yeah I have. I've fired a gun before---"
Rupert looked him in the eyes for a moment.
"Heh-heh." Dave tried to stop his eyes from forcing away from his supervisor. "Yes, I know how to fire a gun."
"Good, that will become useful later. You know how to reload and turn on gun safety and everything?" Rupert glanced away for a moment, then back at his apprentice.
"I think so... You might have to teach me though..." Dave admit.
"That's okay, it's not hard." Rupert reassured. "I'm sure you'll hook onto the skill quickly."
Dave nodded anxiously. "Yeah..."
"There's no need to be nervous, Dave." Rupert rested a hand on Dave's shoulder, and it made Dave jump a little in startlement.
Dave felt his blood run to his face and heat up, probably turning it into a rosey red or pink color.
"Did I startle you?" Rupert asked. "I didn't mean to."
"Yeah, a little--" Dave admit sheepishly. "I-It's okay though."
"Alright." Rupert slid his hand off of Dave. "You know, you remind me a little of my daughter."
Of course he has a family and kids. Just my luck! I should've guessed.
"Whenever it's her weekend with me, at the very least."
That's... kind of a relief, I guess...
"Anyways, there's a new prisoner coming tomorrow, and I heard they've got a package. Can I trust you with checking it?" Rupert changed the subject.
That seemed like an easy job. Just check a package and remove anything that could be used for the inmate to escape. "Yeah, I can handle that." Dave nodded.
"Good, good." Rupert looked away and nodded.
-----
The next day, 2:58 p.m...
-----
"Oi, you!" Rupert called to the inmate, who was looking down at the concrete floor, sulking.
The inmate glanced up.
"You're free to go!" Rupert flicked his index finger at the prisoner, and Dave knew that Rupert was joking. But that was kind of bold of him.
Dave was intensely nervous, but he tried his best not to show it, and he thought he was doing a pretty good job at it.
The inmate looked happy.
"Heheheh!" Rupert laughed at the inmate who had gotten their hopes up. "Not really."
How does he get the confidence to do that!? That's so bold!
"But you've got a package." The inmate looked curious at Rupert's words.
That was Dave's signal. He tossed the package in the small opened hatch with the metal border.
Dave stepped back to stand behind Rupert, and that's when he realized,
he had forgotten to check the package.
Anxiety flooded through Dave, what if Rupert caught that he hadn't checked the package? The chances weren't high of him catching that, but the chances is low, not zero.
"Don't get your hopes up!" Rupert swung his hand towards the cell as the prisoner looked at the package with curiosity in his blue eyes.
"We've already checked it for anything useful. Haven't we, Dave?"
And there it was. More anxiety washed over Dave.
"What?" Dave snapped out of thought, to find Rupert gazing back at him. "Oh yeah! Of course I checked it!" He did his best not to sound nervous, and failed at it. "If I didn't check it I'd lose my job and Idontwannalosemyjob."
Rupert glanced at Dave in silence for a few moments.
"Heh-heh." Dave nervously laughed again.
Rupert turned away and back at the prisoner. "Seeya around!" He taunted, walking away with Dave on his trail. "Heheh, free to go." He scoffed with laughter in his voice. "That was pretty funny, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, haha..." Dave nodded, his anxiety wearing down and away from him.
"Hey, why are you always so nervous?" Rupert stopped after they reached the elevator, raw concern in his eyes and tone.
Dave didn't say anything at first, he just got nervous and even a little flustered. "It's nothing... You don't have to worry about it..." Dave shook his head and glanced away shamefully, faking a smile.
Rupert lifted his head a little and looked down at Dave.
"R-Really! It's nothing!"
"I don't believe you." Rupert lowered his head and cocked it to the side.
Dave sighed. "Le-Let's just say... personal reasons."
"Alright then." Rupert hesitated, then glanced away.
Dave looked down shamefully.
-----
"That prisoner escaped! He used something from the package!" Dave's boss yelled.
"H- I- Th-" Dave couldn't speak.
"You're fired!"
"Wh-What!?"
"I said, you're fired! Go home! Return your uniform tomorrow, and never come back!"
Dave held his tears back and left the large prison ward. He burst into tears just a moment after he got out. He had gotten fired, just because he forgot one little thing. Now, he would probably never see Rupert again.