THIS IS THE FIRST FANFICTION I'VE EVER WRITTEN IN ENGLISH SO PLEASE DON'T BE TOO CRITIC ON ME - though any kind of hint is welcome!
I don't own OFF, neither any of the game's characters - it all belongs to epic person, Mortis Ghost.
/first chapter is like a little enter to the world, therefore there isn't much action there, but I swear it gets better in time!/
Zacharie was leaning against the desk, pointlessly staring outside the window, at the peaceful sea of plastic. He was so BORED. The Batter didn't come since some time already, he was propably busy fighting off all the spectres in this zone. The Judge hasn't been around aswell, so Zacharie was all alone for enough time now. He doesn't like being alone. In fact, he hates that, because when he's alone for too long, he starts thinking about what should be long buried under his own memories and forgotten. After he had polished his toad mask for fourth time today, he leaned against desk and stayed in this state until now.
He didn't exactly notice the moment he fell into his own mind, not even seeing the plastic outside the window anymore.
He saw right before his eyes, the scenes that he tried so hard to forget. The crowds of people, the look on his parents' faces. The fear that could be felt in the air. The screams, coming out of crowd. And mostly... how much of refusal he felt back then.
He sighed and shook his head. It's all in the past. No need to think about it anymore. After all, he's not the same as...
The sound of the door opening got him out of this. He looked up and smiled behind the mask at the look of so similar person.
" Bonjour, mon ami! " he said cheerfully, a low chuckle following the greeting.
" Good day, Zacharie. " Batter was emotionless like always. But just the fact that he was there, standing at the doors, leaning his bat against them and soon walking in to make a transaction, it was enough. Zacharie never really needed more from him.
" Ah, good thing you're there, Batter! I've got new stock for you. " he dived under the desk and right at the moment the tall man walked to it, the merchant jumped up with some new Tickets, Tunic and Bat.
The transaction went quickly.
" Pleasure to make interests with you. " said Zacharie as always. He looked at Batter with silent beg, saying 'don't leave just yet. ' in his eyes. The other man couldn't see it for sure, since merchant's face was covered with mask, as always. Ironically, a mask showing a big grin. He knew well that Batter had his own sacred mission. He didn't have time to waste in the shop.
Though Batter didn't leave yet. Instead, he stood there, looking at Zacharie. He looked as if he was thinking hard about something, the masked man wasn't even sure if he's looking AT him, or just THROUGH him.
" Batter? " he asked, tilting his head to the side.
Looks like all he needed was this small impulse. He blinked few times, and then shook his head a bit, and looked up again, this time certainly AT Zacharie.
" Um, sorry. " he said, turning back and heading towards door.
" Hey! " Zacharie shouted after him. He knew that it's gonna take long until he'll visit his shop again. So he didn't see anything wrong in that he wanted to keep him there. Judge actually stopped giving any signs of life after Zone 2. Batter was... the only friend Zacharie had left. " If there's anything troubling you, mon ami, feel free to talk about it. "
Batter didn't reply. He was propably thinking now whether it'll be good for mission or not. Merchant didn't want to lose his chance.
" We all need a little confession from time to time, Batteur. " he liked to give a slight French touch to tall man's name. " Think it's time for yours? " he asked, leaning his head against one hand.
" You're no priest. " said shortly Batter, and continued his short, yet somehow tragic for Zacharie walk.
" Oui, c'est vrai! But in times like these, I doubt you could find a better one. "
Batter took his Bat, though he just bought new one. Propably he'll just throw the old one at some spectres. Zacharie looked after him, with a grin plastered to his mask. The last thing Batter heard was a low chuckle.
" As you wish, mon ami. " the masked man said, and bowed, though there was noone to hear nor see him anymore. The Batter has left. His sacred mission needs him now.
Zacharie took a tea-towel and started cleaning up his toad mask, for the fifth time.
He thought about walking out, but then there would be spectres there. This Zone is not purified yet. And even after so called 'purification' there would still be Secretaries. He could defeat them easily, but he didn't want Batter to see him fighting. The tall man is just about to go round the bend about whole that purification stuff, so at this point seeing even his friend and needed merchant being able to fight, he could assume Zacharie's one of the spectres. After cleaning up both masks, the desk, and all the bats he had, he literally lied on the desk, at last with upper part of his body. He sighed loudly and closed his eyes.
Zacharie wasn't really sure if it took long or short before he fell asleep, neither he knew if the sleep itself lasted long. Either way, he could now hear the weak voice, speaking his name. As the call was getting more vivid, he could feel the hard, actually uncomfortable desk under him. And the next thing he felt was a hand on his mask, most likeably willing to take it off.
He quickly stood up and took few steps back, placing his own hand on the mask, making sure it's still there.
Batter stood in the position he was a while ago, still reaching out for the non absent anymore mask. He looked at the merchant, both surprised and... relieved? A tiny bit?
" Um, salut! " Zachare chuckled nervously, tightening the threads keeping his mask on, just in case. " Sorry to be asleep on my duty, hah hah. Won't happen again, sir. " he saluted and chuckled again.
" ... " no answer. Well.
" Why did you.. try to take it off? " he asked, but with no anger in his voice.
" For a while I thought you were dead. " Batter answered emotionlessly, like always. " Since you were lying on the desk, I thought seeing if you're breathing there under your mask is the easiest way to make sure you're not. "
" Ah... Thank you for your concern then, mon ami . " he said. So that's where the r
So that's where the relief on Batter's face came from. The merchant, his only source of needed Bats and Tickets, was alive, ready to sell more stuff. He couldn't care about Zacharie as... Zacharie. He was just a masked merchant, and that was the only reason he was still alive.
But then... why is Batter still standing there, looking at him, not starting the transaction yet? Did the Player hesitate? Or was it The Batter? ...at this point, he should be totally out of Puppeter's control but then.. who knows.
" Zach.. " Batter started. Merchant looked at him with quiet 'hm?'. So it was The Batter, not Player. " What's under your mask ? "
" It is not for you to know, mon ami. " he said quietly.
" You said you could be my priest. What about me being yours ? " That was... unexpected. The only emotion coming from Batter the masked man noticed so far was the sparkle of excitement anytime he got new Bat in his hands. Also the wrath, consuming him from the inside, but that was hidden behind the cold poker face. So such sentence, coming from him, was quite a... surprise. The only thing Zacharie replied as was another chuckle.
But Batter didn't turn back. He didn't leave, he didn't even looked down. He was staring right at him, right into his eyes, and that made Zacharie feel a little... weird.
There was something in usually blank, cold blue eyes. There was this curiosity, there was this sentence. 'I want to know.' For a while, Zacharie could think of nothing but that he's screwed. Usually, when Batter actually WANTS something, he gets it, no matter the price.
...wait a second. Right, price. He could give an enormous price for that privilege, but then Batter could just leave and be back in few days with enough Credits.
He had to think of something that the other could not comprehend.
" I don't need a confession. " he said, leaning against the wall with his side, nonchalantly.
" We all need it. "
" Mhmm... so you say. But I'm pretty good with myself. I don't feel lik
I don't feel like I have to apologize to god. I doubt there's one to listen to my apologies anyway. "
" ... why, you think there is one ? "
" ... no. "
Zacharie smirked under his mask. He knew it. That guy probably felt like a God himself, walking around and purifying what's left of this Zone.
" But if you can listen to me, then I don't see why wouldn't it work backwards. "
" Heh heh heh. " Zacharie chuckled, lowering his head, letting his dark hair fall on top of the pale mask. " Firstly, mon ami, you didn't agree to that. And secondly. " he looked up again. " I don't have anything to share, other than my products, or a mere hint from time to time. "
Batter was getting irritated, that could be seen.
" But I want to know. " he said.
" Hmmm, then we certainly got a problem there, Batter. Because I don't want you to know. "
" Why not? "
" I've answered this one already. "
He could see Batter clenching his teeth, but trying to keep calm. He looked at him with pleasure that he didn't even have to hide - mask was doing the job quite well.
He had no idea when it happened, but he went through many emotions about Batter, starting at a happiness about new customer, then an appreciation about his strength and great goal, then even envy about that, finally to understanding the true nature of Batter's mission, and along with that, a deep hidden fear of End.
But there was something more. Everytime Batter entered the shop, he smiled under his masks. He enjoyed looking at him when he was deciding on which bat to buy. He used to walk to the windows of the building, just to look at how the tall man gets deeper and deeper into the smoke and fog, ready to purify. And the moments at the beginning of the game, when Batter was totally controlled by the Player, he even looked into his cold, blue eyes from close.
Because when the Player paused the game, the Batter was paused aswell.