Sanders Sides (and more) One Shots

Learning To Exist

As Roman took what felt like many steps to his first day working at the bookstore, he couldn't help but replay the last words the girl said to him in his head:

You never existed in the first place.

He considered himself lucky that "athletic" was on her list of what she expected in the perfect boyfriend, otherwise he would've been dead before reaching the city limit. He was also glad she had "smart" on the list, otherwise he wouldn't have created a convincing enough identity for himself. It's not like he would get any help if he told someone he was created by a genie granting a wish.

While working, Roman found the time to read as much as he could as a better way to encourage sales and express his trait of being passionate.

He was in the middle of looking over a book of poetry when someone tapped on his shoulder. When Roman turned around, he found himself looking at a mature man with glasses, a dark shirt, and a blue necktie. He wasn't sure why, but there was a feeling in his stomach that he guessed was similar to how someone felt before throwing up as he was looking at the man.

"Excuse me, is that book worth reading?" the man asked.

"Huh, oh yes," Roman answered while giving the book to the man.

"I take it you have an appreciation for poetry, too?"

"I find myself fond of fictional literature where I can see the events play out in my head."

Roman felt whatever confidence he had within him melt away and rushed back to the cash register with a face as red as the apple on the school book display. It wasn't long before the man came by with the book of poetry he was reading along with a few others.

"Oh, so this must be your first day. I've never seen you here before," the man stated as Roman was scanning the prices.

"Yeah, it is my first day here. My name is Roman," Roman responded.

"Well, my name is Logan. Nice to meet you," the man introduced himself.

As soon as the sale was made, Roman bagged the books and Logan said, "I hope to see you again" before leaving. The feeling in his stomach wouldn't go away as he was thinking about Logan. He never actually had that sort of feeling when he was around her; he was just expected to be an ideal boyfriend to her. Even though he had a long way to go before he could actually live like a real human, he was starting to have fun learning to be a real human.

Roman did the best he could to survive in between pay days while employed. He felt relieved that "talented" was one of the traits that she wanted in an ideal boyfriend, especially since performing on the sidewalk helped fill his stomach in between shifts. He eventually made enough to get an apartment of his own so he didn't have to worry about being caught sleeping in an alley. Speaking of someone he didn't want to catch him sleeping in an alley, he found out Logan was a regular at the bookstore and found time to talk to him. He expressed confidence, but there were times where it would just melt away when in a conversation with Logan. He liked to think Logan at least liked the conversations, but he wasn't entirely sure.

One day, Roman was doing some cleaning and recommending books, but mostly just some random thinking in general, when he suddenly bumped into someone. He nearly apologized like a gentleman until he saw he bumped into Logan and just apologized like a nervous pile of mush.

"Interesting, this is one of the few places where I'm not figuratively invisible," Logan retorted.

"It's not that, honestly. I was...daydreaming," Roman explained.

They both chuckled before silence bloomed between them. It wasn't until Logan started to turn away that Roman found his voice again.

"Oh, Logan, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to get to know you more outside of store hours. If you're not comfortable, just say so," Roman suggested.