Bread on Toast - A Future Man Fanfiction

December 11, 2017 - Pilot

Warnings: strong language

  For as long as Liv Branson had worked at Kronish Labs alongside her best friend, Josh Futturman, she'd had a crush on him. A big one. Would she ever tell him? Absolutely not, they were strictly platonic. But would she jump at the chance to pursue something romantic with him if he were to show interest? No comment (yes). Did hearing about his crush on Jeri Lang, Dr. Kronish's assistant, make her want to rip her eyes out and scream at the top of her lungs? Yes. Would she ever admit that to anyone? No. Liv and Josh both worked as janitors at Kronish Labs, a scientific lab dedicated to finding a cure for herpes run by Dr. Elias Kronish.

  Liv's car sat in Josh's driveway as she scrolled on her phone, waiting for him. They carpooled every morning to "save on gas". It was actually because Josh didn't have a car, and as much as she liked to give him shit for that, she actually didn't mind.

  "Morning Liv," Josh panted as he opened the door.

  "Morning, late boy," she teased. "What's your excuse for being..." she looked at the clock on the radio. "A minute and a half late?"

  "I had to run to the video game store to get a new controller." He explained wearily. "I had to sprint there and back, you should be proud that I'm even here." He panted as he got in.

  "Had to? That sounds like something you could have done after work." She continued to tease him. She knew how important his game "The Biotic Wars"  was to him, he had talked her ear off about it enough times. She didn't mind though, she thought his enthusiasm about it was cute.

  Josh rolled his eyes and a slight smile formed on his lips. "Shut up, Liv." Liv lightly punched his shoulder as he buckled his seatbelt.

  By lunchtime, she hadn't seen much of Josh throughout the day after they'd clocked in, but  knew exactly where to find him. She waltzed over to the janitors closet on the first floor, the one with "the most space" according to Josh. She knocked on the door rhythmically and the door swung up to reveal Josh.

   Before he could even greet her, she smugly said, "I knew I'd find you here." She shoved him aside and walked in.

  "Hey!" He laughed as she pushed him. "I was about to play 'Biotic Wars'."

  "I know, that's all you ever do." She said in a singsong voice, sitting cross legged in a metal chair next to his rolling chair, which he had designated as his "work gaming chair". He grinned and rolled his eyes at her comment. "Did you ever get past level 78?" Liv asked.

  "I did! And guess what? I got up to level 82 last night!" Josh exclaimed, sitting in his chair and starting up the game. It took him right to the level he was on, dropping him straight into the action.

  "Oh shit! So you're, like, almost done with the game then?" Liv leaned forward in her chair, watching Josh's avatar, Future Man, take down Biotics.

  "Fuck yeah, and when I'm the first person to beat level 83 and beat the whole game, you'll get to brag to everyone that you're best friends with me." Josh bit his lip as he frantically pressed the controls.

  "Not if I beat it first." Liv teased, she had no intention of ever playing the game.

  "Shut up, Liv- no!" Josh cried out as Future Man was shot in the head.

  Liv clicked her tongue and leaned back in her chair. "Seems like you've got a long time before you beat this game, Joshy." She kicked his foot lightly.

  Josh restarted the level, letting out a sigh. "Liv, I don't want your input." He said through gritted teeth. As Liv watched Josh fail the same level over and over, she sank further and further in the uncomfortable chair, growing bored but also wanting to spend time with Josh. This was how they spent every single lunch break. After 30 minutes of watching Josh die over and over and their lunch break coming to an end, Ray, a security guard, opened the door.