Work Text:
The coffee machine whirred endlessly as Apo's mind strayed. The afternoon light filled the small shop as customers relaxed and drank lattes. Just two more hours before she could go home, well, not home. Home was where Cherri was, and it would be at least another month before she could finally visit her.
The distance from her love ached in Apo’s heart every day, wishing to run into Cherri's arms.Apo was grateful to come to college to study architecture, Oakhurst University had an amazing program,and attending had always been her dream. But she missed Cherri, god she missed Cherri. She was attending an art college near home, and certainly wasn’t shy about sending updates of her projects. Apo loved to see the pictures, but despite their constant conversations and updates, it still wasn’t the same about seeing her in person.
As she quietly daydreamed, she heard a loud crash behind her. When she turned around she saw that Pyro had tripped on the smooth wooden floor, nearly hitting an expensive espresso machine. Apo put down the drink she was making,and quickly helped Pyro regain his balance.
“Thanks Apo.” Pyro muttered.
“Pyro.” Owens' low voice cut through the shop,”Please refrain from breaking the machines.”
“Sorry sir.” Pyro responded quietly as Avid giggled from the register.
She could hear Owen mumble something about ‘Louis would’ve kept his cool’ as Pyro managed to stand up. “You okay?” They asked.“You really need some new shoes, Pyro.” His boots had been on the brink of collapse for almost the entire two months he worked at the shop. But they still refused to purchase new ones.
“I know they aren’t in the best state, but I can’t waste time and money on shoes. I need to-
“Prove to the university that you’re innocent and deserve to study just like everyone else.” Apo recited in a mock accent. “Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about your ‘grand fight for justice.”
“It’s just not fair! I didn’t steal research from Czeslaw, he never even does research!”
“Hey.” Owen cut in. “Get working, this isn’t a party it’s a job. That includes you, too Avid!” Avid jumped as Owen slammed his fist down on the counter. “Have I not told you to stop wasting time spreading conspiracy theories?!”
Avid jumped at Owen’s loud accusation, and Apo could barely stop herself from physically cringing.
“S..sorry Owen.” Avid sputtered out . “I wasn’t trying to do anything wrong.. It’s just that Shelby should know that-”
“It’s fine I suppose, it’s not like she ever buys anything.” Owen glared at Shelby. “Apo, Pyro, can you two close up today?”
Great,just another thing to do.
“Sure, Owen.”
***
Apo and Pyro walked together, quietly trudging through the city streets. Apo stared at the buildings as cars rumbled past. The architecture slowly changed from the sleek business district their coffee shop sat in the middle of, to the historic buildings of their university. Apo and Pyro took this walk together almost every night after work, but they never could seem to think of topics to talk about.
“So…” Apo turned to Pyro. “Read any interesting.. History stuff?”
“Well yes actually! I was reading a text about the history of the city's sewers,did you know they’ve been around the original town, and as the cities expanded they’ve all been connected to the original ones!”
“Uh yeah that sounds really cool, Pyro.” Apo responded.
“So how about you? Learn about any cool… bridges?” He asked.
“Mmhmm.”
Apo had learned about a very interesting bridge, one floating above the sea that could talk visitors to a recently isolated island. But something always seemed to stop Apo from telling people about it. Whether it was fear from citing facts incorrectly, or simply exhaustion. Every day she felt more and more detached from the life she had once longed for. Oh, how she missed droning on to Cherri about everything from flying buttresses to solar powered boats.
She would see her soon. One way or another.
All the architecture seminars in the world couldn’t make up for lost time with the love of her life. She would go, soon. Even if she couldn’t save enough she would figure out something, anythi-
“Uh, Apo?”
“Hm, uh, yeah Pyro?”
“Are you okay?”
“Mmhmm, why do you ask?”
“You walked past the building.”
“Oh yeah, right, let’s go inside.”
***
As Apo flicked the switch, dim light filled the small room. An old lamp illuminated Apo's desk, suddenly reminding her of the design studio project due the next day. Letting out a groan she heaved herself to the desk. Swiping eraser dust off of her papers, they saw there was barely anything sketched on the month old worksheet. Already deep in frustration she felt something hit her back.
“Pyro, why did you throw a-” She turned around, “seed packet, at me?”
“Is it yours? It was on my desk next to a paper about greenhouses, figured it was some project.”
Apo walked over to see the aforementioned page, and looked closely at the handwriting. “That’s probably Cleos, she must have left it by accident. Or to mess with me.”
“I think you’re overestimating how much she hated you.”
Apo shrugged, “Well idk, but she did basically curse my bloodline when she left to live with Polly or whatever.”
“I think it was Pearl.”
“Whatever, the point is, these aren’t my seeds, please don’t throw them at me. Also Cleo hates me, it’s mutual, but at least that means you can live here. Don’t know how it’s really helping you to be reaccepted but oh well.” She muttered at the end. “Anyways, I have a project, so give me some room to think, okay?”
“Yes ma’am.” Pyro responded satirically as he opened an obscenely large book about the history of something or other. Apo sighed and started sketching a building, figuring she could decide what it was later on. Whatever made her grade average sub-optimal.
“I miss you Cherri.” She whispered.