Aphmau One-Shots

it's not okay - i'm not okay (Zane)

*AU where they never got together as friends - set in the same universe of 'what can i say, money is scarce'; Zane has to take over his father's company after Garroth's death

Zane isn't allowed to wear his mask when he goes to the meetings. ("A security measure," the guards had said, "we can't let anyone we don't know into the building")

He isn't allowed to wear his hoodies or skinny jeans, instead he has to wear a suit and tie. At least both items are black, excluding the white shirt underneath. His hair is slicked back, revealing his ghostly pale eye that he can't see from (Garroth never did apologize for that, except for when he wrote that stupid note). It makes his hair become greasier afterward, Zane doesn't care. (He doesn't care for many things anymore)

His father waits for him at the doorway, a cheery look on his face (his eyes gave him away; they are dull, have been since that day).

As they enter the building where the meeting was taking place (he can't even remember what the meeting is about) they pass through metal detectors, and are patted down.

"Security measures, my ass," Zane hissed after the whole ordeal was done, his father chuckled just a bit before his expression turned to steel. Zane's face was always apathetic, and it helped in situations like these. (his face used to be angry, all the time - it didn't help in situations like these, which is why he wore his mask)

"Welcome to Ro'Meave Corporations," a man with pale blue hair says joyously. Zane can't help but hate him.

Beside the old man stands a woman around Zane's age, perhaps a bit older. She has her light blue hair pulled back into s ponytail, and light brown eyeshadow on her eyes. Her resting bitch face and tight posture clear indicators that she doesn't want to here.

Zane has become well aquatinted with the women, having gone to highschool with her and seeing her at his brother's funeral. Also seeing her in the various business meetings he had to attend, now that Garroth isn't here.

They exchange greetings with them, the older men then indulging in an intense discussion about business.

Zane chooses to ignore the conversation, instead focusing on the bluenette.

"Hello Katelyn," Zane curtly greets, cooly watching the woman's expression to see her reaction.

"Zane, how have you been," she asks, tone neutral making the question seem more like a statement.  Icy eyes gazing back into his own blue eyes, eyes shifting to his paler eye.

"Fine, you?" Zane replies, hands shaking a bit so he stuff them into his coat pockets.

"Alright." She shifts her hands towards the front of her pencil skirt, gripping the binder closer to her chest.

The silence that falls between them is icy.

"You know we dated in highschool," Katelyn had told him. Voice gentle, and eyes dry.

Zane doesn't respond. Choosing instead to look at the simple card he had given. Eyes oddly wet.

'sorry about your loss'

"We broke up because I found out I was lesbian," she confesses, hands fisting her black dress, " he was really understanding about it."

Zane just stares blankly at the unassuming card. His black suit feels stuffy and wrong. His vision becoming blurry, Katelyn puts a hand on his shoulder.

Zane doesn't recall much from the day of the funeral, only remembering getting black out drunk afterwards. The two adults spend the rest of their time before the meeting in silence. 

Zane can't help but think that Garroth would have been able to fill in the silence effortlessly.

Garroth, his older brother had grinned, eyes shut tight.

"Take care of them," the statement had been a little off, but Zane had shrugged the wording off. Too used to his brother's fake accent and polite smiles and appropriate-volume laughter. 

"Sure," he had grumbled.

His brother had stayed by the door for a while before letting it softly shut behind him.