Tadc ao3

Caine x Reader smut

ao3 Link;

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50529088

You were going to spend another night slumped over your computer at this rate. The brilliant glow was your only companion in the ramen-and-pizza-scented darkness of your apartment bedroom, since all the blinds had to be pulled down. You couldn't face the world like this, sticky with sweat and hunched like a broiled shrimp in your swivel chair that squeaked with every micro movement.

It seemed the competition for computer engineering jobs was hungrier than you thought. Tiredly, you tried to block out the glaring light by squeezing your sore eyelids shut. Motley colours in the black danced against your retinas.

"A bachelor's for this." you croaked.

Water, that's what you needed, so with the thought of a fresh glass tunneled into your mind, you stood up, stretched your joints with several cracks, and made your way to the kitchen.

Like a stain in the corner, the unsightly pile of letters and due payments made itself known to you again, as you just tried to mind your business at the sink.

The only reason clean water even filled your glass right then was thanks to your well-off generous relatives, and the thought of that sat heavy in your chest.

You looked up at the wall clock to see what time it was, and forgot immediately as you turned away. Your bleary brain only got the inkling that it was way too late at night. Or too early in the morning.

Whatever it was, that glass of water hit the spot. You filled up another one as a treat and chugged it so far back multiple trickles ran down your chin, before stepping over the clutter on the carpet back to that smooth, electronic box at your desk.

"I'll just.. go through my mail."

Pointless, but you needed to feel somewhat accomplished. One more menial task before bed, surely.

As you clicked through your contacts, which was unsurprisingly uneventful, bright primary-coloured text lit up the corner of your screen, catching your eye and making your chest pound.

Wait.

The Amazing Digital Circus! Click now to play!

An innocuous pop-up, framed by blue.

Did someone get ahold of the unreleased beta somehow? Was an ex-employee of the company spreading it around in a fit of pettiness? You couldn't say you wouldn't do the same.

Your mouse hovered over the one click that would take you back to memories now awash with bittersweetness.You were already wallowing waist-deep, might as well have a burial at this point.

Besides, any viruses could be told to kindly fuck right off no problem with your experience.

What's the harm in revisiting your old work? It might be the pick-me-up you needed. You wondered who the anonymous sender was, and if other ex-co-workers were having the same internal debate as you were in your seat right now.

Right, in you went.

A fast-paced jovial beat blared as you clicked through the loading area. The theatrical melody filled your room and you hummed along to every note effortlessly. It didn't help, but thanks for trying, game.

Up from rolling hills that curved over into each others and cartoon clouds rose the circus itself, red and yellow-striped. Besides being faintly amused at the stray polygons that clipped the tent through the sky and unmoving flags, you were surprised that everything else was running so smoothly.