Optimism (A BATIM X OC Fanfic)

CHAPTER 4: Behave.

"Mm.."

Andrew grumbled, shuffling the strap of the bag onto his shoulder. The night had passed, and as of now, it was morning. A new day was readying itself for him—another day of work. A Friday it was. And after that, he'd be freed from work temporarily for two days until Monday eventually came, like a Neverending cycle of temporary peace and endless work.

The light shined through the window of the kitchen—creating a warm, luminous glow upon the white tiled floor. Andrew had already poured food into the bowl Apollo would always eat from. Dark brown specks of hard food that was getting harder to afford each day. With each check that came—he always spent most of his spendings on stuff for her and not for himself. After all, the only thing he needed for himself was food and drinks, nothing more.

As Andrew stood with his head bowed, his brows furrowed. He couldn't help but ponder what Joey had said to him yesterday when he fell through the ceiling. He still had the bandage on his calf, and would probably have to keep it there for a while. Though today, the injury hurt a little less.

He then felt something small rub against his other leg, and he gazed toward the source of the sensation—it was only Apollo of course, eagerly gazing up at him with her shiny green eyes and meowing softly. Andrew blinked, and then smiled. She seemed to always know when something was on his mind, even if neither of them could understand eachother.

Andrew then bent down, and lifted Apollo up, grabbing her by her arms softly—gently cooing. "Hiya.."

She meowed again. He brought her closer to himself, and began to caress her back. Andrew could feel her small body begin to tingle, and a purring began to emit from her. He smiled for a moment, before it curled back down into a frown. Andrew could only hear the sound of Apollo's purring, and the sound of the birds chirping from outside, with the occasional motors of vehicles zooming by the house from outside coming into sound as well.

Andrew sighed. "Ya think something might be wrong with me, Apollo?" Apollo gazed up at him curiously, cooking her head to the side as her ear twitched. Andrew chuckled, "I keep breaking things even though I'm not supposed to, and I keep movin' around when other people are tryin' to work.. I can't even go one day without doin' somethin', can I?"

She only meowed in return. And Andrew rubbed his face against her slightly, "I know, but I'm startin' to think they might be right."

Silence filled the air for a moment. Apollo rubbed her face against him in return, and Andrew let out a muffled groan of frustration. Not at her of course, but at himself. Why couldn't he go one day without causing any sort of trouble? Why couldn't he just behave like the adult he actually was?

Andrew blinked, and his eyes sparkled. His brows were fixed downward, and within his pupils, determination began to swirl. Within his thoughts, a slight idea began to brew.

Andrew lifted Apollo back up, gazing at her face. "Ya know what? I'm not gonna cause trouble today! Or, well.. I'll try. And I'll try and help other people today too!" He then brought her closer, peering into her green shining eyes. An excited smile formed upon his lips, and he grinned as he spoke with his tone rising in volume, "And when I do all that, I'll finally stop dissapointing all of my friends at work!"

Apollo meowed. Andrew's smile softened, and he cooed as he brought her closer into an embrace almost, "You always know just what to say.."

Andrew then finally set her down after a few seconds, and peered down at her with an excited grin upon his lips still—saying excitedly as he re-adjusted his bag, "Alright, I'm gonna go now, okay? And I'm gonna do my best!" He then spun on his heel, and began to walk toward the door. "Make sure to behave today, okay? I know you can't understand me, but still!" He called out. Apollo only stared, but she seemed to get the message, or at least seemed to be able to decipher Andrew was trying to say something to her.