This Town (Sally Face x Reader)

Falling

Just as you reached for the front door handle you heard a knock from the other side. You open it to see the same blue-haired boy from earlier.

    "Ready?"

    "Always, Sally face." you smile in response.

The two of you started for the elevator. You watched Sally turn his back to you, as you both started walking. Sal pushed the button to open the elevator. A few seconds later, the door opens, revealing a small elevator room. Sal steps inside first and you follow, standing beside him. You watch as his pale knuckle reaches over to push the button for the first floor. You look up at the masked figure. He had a thin lanky frame, accompanied with long arms and legs. He stood below average male height, standing maybe around 5'7". Despite that, he was still taller than you. He absent mindedly brought a hand up to his face, pushing some hair in his face behind his ear. His ears are double pierced. Right above his ear sits two straps that wrap around and fasten at the back of his head. The mask itself was an off-white color and well worn, covered in small markings from use. The right side of the mask was a faded pink color, taped on to attach it to the other half. You wondered why he wears it. Sal sees you looking and you quickly avert your gaze.

    "Does it weird you out? My prosthetic, I mean." He asks. "It's okay to look. Everyone does. I'm used to it at this point."

    "N-no, not at all. I think it looks cool on you."

He doesn't answer for a moment as he takes a second to process your response.

   "I'm glad you like it then." He says with a smile in his voice.

    "Does it hurt?"

    "Nope. The inside is cushioned and molded to my face. Sometimes I forget it's even there. It kind of just became a part of me, I guess. I've had it since I was a kid."

    "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to pry. You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to."

"It's okay. A lot of people ask, but thanks."

An awkward silence filled the small room. You felt bad for asking and making him talk about it. You didn't mean to be nosey. You were just curious. Sal's energy shifted when he mentioned him having it since he was a kid. No one earns a full face prosthetic from a "sunshine and butterflies" childhood.

    "So what brings you and your mom back to Nockfell?"

You uncomfortably shift. You stiffen at the thought. "I don't think I want to talk about it yet. Let's just say, "wanting a fresh start."

"Hey, I get it. I wasn't exactly psyched about moving either, but it gave me the new beginning I didn't know I needed.  It's changed me in the best ways and I met some awesome people that have become family to me. Maybe it'll do the same for you."

You look up from the ground to look up the boy beside you. "I hope so. You didn't tell me you were a therapist."

"Pshh. Yeah, guess I totally forgot to mention that when we first met." Sal jokingly replied.

You both start giggling. When the laughter fades you fix your eyes on the elevator door in front of you. You smile to yourself thinking about the dumb joke you had just made, but hearing the way he laughed made it worth it. The elevator dings. You were here. 

    "This way."

He leads the way, exiting through the front door and making his way towards the back of the building, not too far from where you went to reach the treehouse.

    "Where are we going?"

    "You'll see."

You two reach the backside of the building. It looked a lot taller than it was from this point of view. Sal guided you to a rickety ladder mounted on the wall leading all the way up the side. He motioned for you to go first.