Broken. Not bent

Chapter 1: The Vending Machine

After the doomsday, as Celeste liked to call it, it took days for (Name) to even muster the strength to drink water. But soon enough he was able to return to work. It wasn't the same though, it would never be the same. Mondo tried his best to cheer the younger boy up, sure his job at a grocery store was definitely not ideal but it was easy to do for the most part if he just ignored the customers while he worked the register. Lots of coincidences happened around the time of the doomsday. One of a big coincidences though was that the day Leon died the vending machine in the break room broke. Mondo liked to joke and say that (Name) and the vending machine were spiritually connected but of course the jokes didn't make (Name) even remotely happy. As the days dragged on life got darker and darker for (Name).

Eventually he found himself sitting in the break room with Mondo as usual. They had been best friends for years but even (Name) knew Mondo couldn't save himself from his own mind. "So I heard they were gonna bring the new guy from the back to fix the damn machine." Mondo states as (Name) picked at the oatmeal he was supposed to be eating for breakfast "is that so...?" The (hair colored) boy questioned further despite having no interest in the conversation whatsoever. He just didn't want to be rude to Mondo. "I guess. I mean he fixes trucks that are like 4x the side of himself, so he's got to be good." Mondo commented. "Mmhmm.." (Name) muttered thoughtfully in return. "Jesus Christ man, earth to cherry pie" he muttered. (Name) was a little thrown by the nick name, he hadn't heard it in a while.

(Name) never really knew where the nick name cherry came from. He figured it was the red tint of his nose and ears. Nonetheless he was shocked, no one had thought of calling him that since Leon passed. He shook his head "sorry mondo, it's just one of those days." (Name) mumbled "It's been this way for almost a year have you talked to a grief consular?" Mondo asked as (Name) shook his head. "What's the point... there's no point in anything anymore" he shrugged as he flicked a small crumb off the table. Mondo sighed and opened his mouth but the door creeped open and a boy with shoulder length pink hair peaked in "sorry to interrupt I'm here for the vending machine." The boy stated. Mondo stood up and with as much confidence as ever "ah yeah it's right over there. I'm off cherry pie, try to stay out of trouble and eat something" he said to the (height) boy, before marching out the door leaving (Name) alone with the bright pink boy.

The awkward silence cling to the room like it had been laid in an egg there. (Name) didn't care but it was clear the boy was uncomfortable as he slowly and oddly waddled over to the vending machine. He hadn't tried to do anything, yet, but the way he moved just made (Name) cautious of his movements and words. "So what's your name? Mines Kazuichi Souda." He said a large grin making its way onto his face. 'Oh god he spoke' (Name) thought fearfully 'I don't want to talk to him but I can't be rude. Mondo will yell at me.' He thought "um... (First Name) (Last Name)..." he muttered "Can I call you cherry?" He asked since he over heard mondo use it. (Name) automatically tensed though "I-I'd rather you didn't" he muttered "oh okay..." he said as the silence fell again. It almost stayed as he fiddled with the machine. (Name) finally ate a bit of his breakfast, bland, 'like my life' he thought to himself

The silence was soon broke "Hey cherry how long has this thing been broken for?" He asked tapping it for what appeared to be no good reason. (Name) rolled his eyes "I thought I said not to call me that... and a good few months now, about 12 I want to say..." he muttered with a small sniffle. Souda began to speak soon after though "you don't sound great cher-" (Name) slammed his hands down on the table before Souda could finish though "I said don't fucking call me that." He muttered stomping out of the break room to clock into work and start doing his job.

He didn't know how that one interaction would effect him. But he didn't care either as long as that boy didn't bother him anymore