Time Traveling 101 - ONC24

3 - Zorion

"Stop loitering in my foyer." Mike muttered as he glared at Zorion.

After coming back from the café, bearing coffee and cakes, Zorion had left the goods on the counter for the sleeping Mike. He then headed upstairs to his apartment, enjoying the cakes and coffee.

However, after an hour of being alone with nothing to do, Zorion headed back downstairs to chat with Mike. The old man sadly was not interested.

"I'm not loitering." Zorion sighed as he leaned over the counter. "I just want to spend time with my favorite person."

Mike lifted up the newspaper he had been reading earlier, covering his face as he pretended to read the newspaper. "Is this how you tell people you're bored out of your mind and want them to entertain you."

"No..."

"So, you are bored and want me to entertain you."

"No. I just want to spend time with you." Zorion retorted. "I have some free time since Grace made me take a compulsory holiday."

Mike put down the newspaper. "I see. So, you don't know what to do while on holiday."

Zorion went quiet knowing Mike had hit the nail on the head. He was so used to working as a time traveller, Zorion couldn't remember the last time he hadn't done something that wasn't for the I.T.T.U.

He knew being a workaholic was bad but it wasn't like there was anything that interested him. Even since Grace had picked him from the orphanage, all Zorion had known was time traveling.

When he wasn't studying or training as a time traveller, he was working with others in the field. Then he had become an agent and started doing his own missions.

"I suggest you go out and hang around people your age." Mike sighed. "Maybe learn what it's like to be a young adult."

"I'm twenty seven." Zorion muttered. "I'm past the young adult stage."

"You can still go to a bar or club. There'll be others your age out and about." Mike said. "Now get moving before I permanently ban you from this safe house."

Zorion grumbled but headed upstairs to his apartment. He didn't need a safe house ban on top of his 'not properly charging the time machine' record. Grace was really going to have his head if he caused any further trouble.

When he got to his apartment, Zorion dropped on the black, leather couch in the sitting room, deciding to watch some television. After a few minutes of going through channels and finding nothing of interest, Zorion switched the T.V. off.

He wandered around the apartment, looking at things he kept around before finally keeping up a book. He settled down on his bed, deciding to spend some time reading.

***

A few hours later, night had completely fallen over the city and Zorion found himself staring at his bedroom ceiling. He wondered if he should take Mike's advice to go out and enjoy the nightlife.

He turned his head to the pile of books he had spent the whole day reading before sighing. It turned out he wasn't really bored, more that his mind kept thinking of a specific person.

I need to get her out of my system and it's not like I have anything better to do. Zorion thought to himself. It won't hurt to see how people my age hang out in the 21st century. I can just think of it as research. Maybe have a one night stand with a random person.

Zorion laughed at the last thought. It had been a while since he had had a fling with someone. And while it wasn't completely forbidden by the I.T.T.U, it was looked down upon since any romantic feelings developed in a fling could make things messy.

Of course most of the time, it landed up with the agent losing their memories so they could properly be with the one they loved.

Still, Zorion enjoyed the company of others and seeing as he had a week with nothing to do, maybe finding someone to spend it with would help cure his boredom.

At least before Mike decided to kill him because Zorion was annoying him.

With a plan in mind, Zorion grabbed some clothes before heading to the bathroom to shower. Once he had showered and was dressed in jeans and a black shirt, Zorion neatened his messy hair before brushing his teeth.

He then headed out the bathroom to the kitchen, grabbing his wallet, keys and phone before heading to the door. Zorion put on a pair of sneakers and grabbed his leather jacket soon heading out his apartment.

When he got downstairs, Mike gazed at him for a second, raising an eyebrow. "Heading out?"

"Yeah." Zorion answered.

"Main is a pretty popular place." Mike stated before going back to his newspaper.

Zorion wasn't sure what was so interesting about the newspaper but he kept quiet about it. "Thanks. Have a good night."

"Sure have a good night. Now scram." Mike muttered, waving a hand to shoo him away.

Zorion took the queue to head out. Main was about a block away from the apartment building so Zorion decided to walk there.

As he walked through the somewhat busy streets, a cold breeze blew, making Zorion glad he had brought a jacket. He noticed the crowds get bigger the closer he got to Main.

It was a little after 8pm so Zorion headed into a nearby bar, wanting to grab some food before he went to the clubs.

Inside the small sports bar, a few people were sitting around. Some seemed to be regulars hanging out while a group seemed to be some kind of office party. At least that's what Zorion guessed looking at them.

Zorion made his way to the bar counter, ordering a burger and a soda. He didn't really like drinking alcohol much. Well, it was more that he was fussy about what he drank.

After finishing his mediocre food, Zorion paid and left the bar which was much more crowded seeing as it was a Friday evening. He wondered around Main for a little while before ducking into an alternative club.

Loud music rang through the club as smoke filled the air and neon lights flashed everywhere. It had just started to get crowded with people filling the dance floor.

After dancing a few songs, Zorion felt a little sweaty and wanted to drink something to cool down. He moved to the bar area when he suddenly bumped into someone.

Looking down, he found himself staring at familiar green eyes and long, blond hair. It seemed he had bumped into the one person he didn't want to – the woman at the café.

***

Seems someone is in denial. 🤭 Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed it!