Optimism (A BATIM X OC Fanfic)

CHAPTER 18: An Inky Incident.

"..you know what's going on with those two?"

"..I don't know exactly, but.. they kind of have been doing this all day."

Mr. Connor let out a sigh, the cigarette still hanging from his minorly chapped lips as he leaned back against the wall. The tendrils of his now sweat-stricken hair clung to his skin, and his shoulders rised with the exhale he managed to let out. A cloud of smoke slowly appeared and evaporated into the air from the end of the cigarette.

Jack stood beside Mr. Connor, his sleek brows raised as he watched him smoke. His dark eyes melted into that of slight concern once the dark cloud had formed from out of the end of the cigarette, and vanished without a trace like it always had. Smoking, especially in an environment like this one, would definitely help with one's nerves. But it could still do damage to one's health and cause stress.

Even so, it wasn't like he could discourage him from smoking just from telling him not to. It was hard to not smoke when one had a habit of doing it. Jack slowly diverted his gaze from the cigarette hanging from Thomas's mouth, and his eyes darted in the direction of the two who were standing before them.

It was merely Andrew and Wally, the peculiar duo that Jack hadn't expected to ever see around the studio. After all, the two had never even interacted up until this point. Or had they already met? It was possible neither of them told anyone of them having met already or something.

Still, this wasn't what Jack was concerned about. More so, what he was concerned about was what Joey would think of all this. The two had jobs to do. Wally was supposed to be the one cleaning, not both him and Andrew. Andrew was supposed to be animating—not cleaning. Just what did either of them think they were doing?

The two chattered from before them. And as Jack's mind slowly focused, he found a bit of their conversation being processed within his ears. But as he processed their conversation, Jack slowly processed another sound. A banging sound. A repetitive, reverberating, distant banging sound that was coming from somewhere where Andrew and Wally were standing.

"Ya think the pipe might be makin' all that noise?" Wally's head slowly shifted over in Andrew's direction, his brow arched as he stood next to the noticeably taller man. Andrew looked in his direction, and only gestured with his palm as noticeable uncertainess swirled within his expression.

"Eh.. maybe? I dunno. It seems like it's comin' from here." Andrew slowly turned his head back toward the pipe that was attached to the wall. He pressed both of his hands onto his hips as he stared, pondering the sound that Jack had only now noticed. And.. seemingly, Andrew must have been right. For the distant sound of the banging he heard was coming in the direction of the pipe.

Wally hummed in thought as he leaned foward, pressing a hand under his chin. "Hmm.. maybe it's malfunctionin'? Ya think we oughta get Connor to check it out?"

Andrew stared, and as if not even realizing the Connor they spoke of was right behind them, he shook his head and replied. "Nah, I don't wanna bother him. Maybe we could try seein' if one of the other repair-boys could do it."

Wally tapped his foot against the floor. And then, his eyes widened, as if an idea clicked in his mind. "Hey, here's an idea. What if I just did it? Just 'cuz I'm a janitor don't mean I don't got any skill."

Andrew stared again as if puzzled, but then his eyes lit up like he had just heard the most brilliant idea in the world. His caramel-brown eyes glistening with euphoria, he exclaimed as his lips curled into a smile, "Oh, yeah! Good idea, Wally!" His fist slowly clenched together and shook in excitement.

Jack felt himself glance back over in Mr. Connors direction, though once he had, he noticed the shift in expression on Mr. Connors face. His eyes were now wide, and his mouth hung open wide enough for his cigarette to nearly fall on the ground. Whatever he had realized in that moment must have not been a good revelation, for before Jack could respond, Mr. Connor took a step foward.