Bread on Toast - A Future Man Fanfiction

A Riphole In Time

Warnings: strong language, some depictions of violence (like it's not super violent, but there's mentions of it...yeah...you'll see)

  Liv woke up to a text from Josh on her Blapple phone telling her that he didn't need a ride and that he "had it covered". Liv ended up driving to work all alone, slightly bummed. As she clocked in she heard the sound of boots quickly stomping up behind her, immediately recognizing them as Josh's boots. She turned around and started to wave at him, but he breezed right past her without looking at her and without clocking in.

"Hi Liv," he mumbled as he moved past her. "Bye Liv." She turned her head as he walked quickly away. She blinked a couple times. He'd sounded off, his voice was hoarse and he seemed out of it and stressed.

What the fuck? It was weird that he didn't stop to fist bump her, or pretend to go in for a hug and dodge her, or any of their usual interactions. First no ride and now whatever that was? Is he...okay? She thought. Her eyebrows knitted together as she turned on her heel, marching toward the elevator. Once up to the second floor she saw Josh...talking to Jeri, Dr. Kronish and Dr. Camillo's shared assistant. This was the first time he'd ever spoken to her. Liv stood and watched from the end of the hall. The only thought she could conjure up was, who the fuck is this man and what has he done Josh?! She cocked her head slightly as she watched them interact. Josh had never spoken to Jeri before, he was scared to. She still stood at the end of the hall and stared at them, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her. The elevator opened behind her and she turned to see Dr. Camillo and Dr. Kronish, her bosses, walking out of the elevator. She quickly moved out the way, hoping Dr. Camillo wouldn't scream at her for standing in his way, but he was too busy grumbling at Kronish as they walked past her.

"Stu please, these focus groups are embarrassing," Kronish was explaining as they approached Kronish's office.

"Buck up Elias, it's good for the company!" Dr. Camillo finally snapped at Kronish. "Unless you're not a company man."

"I am! But, I hate being the center of attention-"

"You won't be the center of attention, that little mini lasagna on your lip will be!" Dr. Camillo shouted at Kronish. Camillo turned to Josh, who was staring at them like he'd never seen this sort of interaction before. "What are you looking at, butthead?" He spat before entering his office and slamming the door.

Liv was used to seeing interactions like that between Kronish and Camillo, everyone was. Except apparently Josh, who looked confused. He stumbled after Kronish as Jeri said something to him. "Dr. Kronish, can I ask you a question?" Was the last thing Liv heard Josh say as he followed Kronish into his office before the door shut. Liv slowly raised an eyebrow. She slowly walked down the hall, coming into Jeri's line of vision. She glanced up to see Liv and gave her a quick, friendly smile as she got back to work.

"Hey Liv, if you're looking for Josh he's talking to Kronish." Jeri said as she stapled some paperwork together. She'd never really talked to Jeri either and it kind of surprised her that Jeri knew her name.

"Oh, uh, thanks." Liv muttered, eyes lingering on Kronish's door.

Jeri looked back at the door and then back to Liv. "Everything alright?" She asked nicely.

"What, uh, what was he saying...to you?" She asked, still trying to wrap her head around how weird he was acting.

"Something about feeling like the end of Back To The Future I think?" Jeri said, looking up at Liv and slightly shaking her head. "You'll probably know because you're friends with him, but he doesn't normally act like that does he?"

"Nope," Liv gave a short, breathy laugh, feeling slightly relieved that others had noticed how strange he was acting.

"Okay," she laughed. "I was like, I don't talk to him much, but something is off. He's acting like he's never been here before." Jeri laughed again.