Optimism (A BATIM X OC Fanfic)

CHAPTER 20: Your Fault.

It was really hard to process what Wally had said to him afterward, for he hadn't been used to.. well, anyone saying stuff like that to him particularly.

Throughout the day, he had found the conversation he had with Wally drawing back into his mind no matter how hard he tried to focus on the frames he was supposed to be drawing. The memory of the conversation, the little details of it all. All of it just seemed to fade back into his brain no matter how much Andrew tried to push it all away.

The humid, damp air was the same as it had been when he had spoken to Wally. It was the same sensation he felt spread onto his face anytime Wally had said something nice to him.

The warm, ambiguous scent in the air he inhaled through his nostrils reminded Andrew of just how warm this newfound friendship made him feel.

The sounds of occasional laughter from the grumpy employees reminded Andrew of that same friendly giggle Wally would always let out anytime he had said something that normally others would find completely stupid.

Everything reminded him of Wally.

And no matter how hard he tried to focus, the memory would still slip into his mind like a liquid seeping beneath a door and slowly flooding the room it had entered.

Wally's round, freckled face smiling up at him.

Wally's laughter he let out anytime Andrew got overly excited.

Wally's emerald green eyes, his auburn curly hair, his..

..everything.

"Andrew."

A raspy voice uttered Andrew's name, and in that instant, his thoughts appeared to cease. His eyes widening, Andrew tried to push away the weird memory in his brain, and he contorted his head upward in the direction of the voice. He knew who it was. After all, he had already been conversing with him. Andrew's shift would be over soon, so he had been talking to him.

"Oh, uh.. sorry, Norman." Andrew uttered, fumbling with his tie as he sat comfortably in the wooden chair that was before the table he sat at. Norman stood near a shelf, holding a mug that was now filled to the brim with coffee. Norman stared for a moment, before letting out a raspy sigh like a puff of smoke exiting the entrance of a cigarette.

"Geez, with how much you seem to be spacing out, I'm starting to think cleaning with Wally's making you wanna become a janitor too or somethin'." Norman remarked, slowly walking over to the table.

"I—I don't!" Andrew replied. Then, he paused. Fidgeting with his tie, he then said, "..would.. would that mean I'd get to spend some more time with him or..?"

Norman arched a brow, his chocolate brown eyes staring in confusion. Andrew found himself gulping, unsure if that was the right way to respond.

"..uh.. I don't know." Norman replied slowly, "Ya probably would only see him at random times since janitors have their own rounds to make around places they clean and all."

Andrew let out a small grumble, pressing his palm against his head and finding his brows furrowed as he let his eyes draw toward the table. "Mm.."

"I mean—you look like you're doin' just fine as an animator, aside from all the other guys there bein' kinda harsh and all." Said Norman, gesturing with his hand as he slowly lowered his mug to his lips, and sipped some of the liquid from out of it. The flavor of the rich coffee entered his mouth with warm bitterness.

"They—they aren't harsh. They just.." Andrew paused.

The memory of what Wally had said slowly entered his mind.