Chapter Text
Only the very oldest people remembered a time when humans could see in color. Over the years people had started to lose color in their eyes. When they were heartbroken or thrown aside, they would lose their vision of color. Only one's true love could make color come back to their life. People called it "Soulmates”. If you met your soulmate, you would eternally be happy. Color would never leave your life again. But what happens if your Soulmate was someone you weren't supposed to be with? A forbidden relationship? What would happen?
Alban Knox, a Cat Cafe employee (also technically a convenience store worker), was working late into the night. He was staring at his phone, hoping for the night to go faster. He worked the night shift of a convenience store. A customer walked into the store. Alban didn’t glaze up once. He watched his video flash bunches of gray colors.
How long had it been since he last saw color? Whenever he looked back at his memories it was all fuzzy. He couldn't remember what color looked like, how it felt to see it, or how much seeing color really mattered.
The one memory he could remember was of his deceased grandmother The tale she had told him many years ago.
Once upon a time, long long ago.
People lived happy lives.
They never let color decide their fate.
But then, a woman was stripped of her titles.
Left in the dust by her own lover.
She came up with a system.
A system that would determine one's love.
Her vision faded as she made what is now today called Soulmate Color loss.
It's a function that is linked to someone else.
When meeting eye to eye with one's soulmate they get color in their life.
She had made it so that everyone would want their soulmates.
Would like their soulmates.
But some people didn’t agree…
They went against her,
Called her a witch.
She was slaughtered at a god's altar, but the damage was done.
People who lost love lost color. People who never knew love never saw color.
Until one met their fated other could they see color. If not they would never see color again…
Alban had always thought it was fake. But the day his grandmother died was the day he lost all color. Everything seemed so dark. So eerie. He felt out of place in a crowd, got in fights with his friends, and slowly he grew deeper and deeper down. Colors slowly getting darker and darker.
His family never helped. After the passing they only cared about the money that was passed down. They exploited Alban in any way. Having him pay rent at a young age. Doing chores, and ultimately becoming lazy grownups relying on his grandmother's money.
He saw the customer who had walked in stuffing things into a backpack. He walked up behind the guy, “Hey what are you doing?” The guy flinched and turned around. He made eye contact with Alban before swiftly pushing Alban to the floor. He ran out the door without saying a word. Alban stood up and ran after him, but to no avail. The guy was already gone by the time he made it out the door.
He walked back towards the counter knowing full well that his manager would be pissed at him, and he would probably be fired…
About an hour later a man wearing what seemed to be police equipment walked in. Alban glanced up and saw him holding the exact same bag the thief had run away with.
“Hello, I’m Commanding Officer Sonny Brisko from the VSF, Virtual Special Forces. I caught someone smuggling food and I assumed it came from your store as you were the closest Konbini.” As Sonny talked, He swiftly lifted up his badge and showed it to Alban.
“Ah yes, the man pushed me to the floor and ran out. I wasn’t able to catch up to him.” Alban reached out and took the bag from the officer. He opened it, finding almost all the cans still in the bag, and started to refill the shelves.
As he refilled the shelves, he couldn't help but look back at the officer. Alban couldn’t deny that he was handsome. The officer had light blonde hair like a highlighter, amethyst eyes, a stern yet comforting gaze, and a soft smile. He then realized the officer had been staring at him with a smile by then. He quickly looked away and continued to stock the shelves.
...Wait… Light Blonde hair like a Highlighter, Amethyst Eyes… He was seeing Color?