One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda
Kingdom Hearts belongs to Square Enix and Disney
All OCs belong to me
"Ugh…!"
"Oh…it's just you, Shirley" Skylar blinked as she opened the custodial closet and looked down, quickly spotting the older woman curled up on the floor. Her face was buried in her knees as she tried to hide from the blinding lights that flickered on. "For a moment, I thought the closet was haunted" she stared as the other woman groaned once more.
"Come on, brat…can't you have mercy on this old woman? My head's killing me…" Shirley weakly moaned as she lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes squinting as strands of blonde and knotted hair fell into her face.
"You knew you were scheduled to come in today," she said as she stepped into the small closet, shutting the door behind her and turning off the lights in the process, "so it's not my fault you decided to get shitfaced last night" she deadpanned as she sat down. Another groan, this one louder than the last, greeted her as the other woman once more buried her face into her knees.
"It…was my eldest daughter's birthday yesterday…"
"That so?" she hummed as she stared ahead, looking past the other woman's shoulder and at the wall behind her. Her nostrils burned at the sharp and sterile smell that lingered within the small space as the silence between them was broken by the other woman's murmuring voice.
"I called…she didn't answer once…" Shirley croaked as she hugged her knees.
'She never does…none of them ever do…' she stayed quiet as she watched the blonde's shoulders heave with every wet and shaky rasp she drew. Her body trembled just the slightest bit as she loudly sniffed, groaning at the painful throb in her skull as she gripped the back of her head, her spindly fingers painfully threading into her matted hair.
"I need a drink…" Shirley eventually grumbled after one final sniff as she raised her head and thumped it back against the wall behind her. She looked drained—her eyes now puffier than before, helping to make the bags under them a lot more prominent.
"Best I can do is some Alka-Seltzer and maybe five whole minutes alone in the cat room with the kits if no one shows up" she hummed.
"Make it ten."
"Greedy, but I'll allow it."
"There you two are" Shirley hissed as the utility closet was opened, causing the lights above to flicker on once more. Skylar squinted at the sudden brightness, her eyes taking a moment to readjust as she turned her head.
"Dammit…do none of you brats know how to knock…?" the blonde groaned as she draped her arm over her head, cringing at the throbbing spike in her temple.
"What are you doing in here? Having a party?" Lance leaned against the doorway, fiddling and flipping the vape in his hand around as he ignored the woman.
"Yes" Skylar deadpanned. "You're not invited."
"Damn" he snapped his fingers, feigning disappointment as he kicked at the ground—shoe bouncing and squeaking against the glossy tiles. "And here I thought I was cool" he raised his vape to his mouth before lowering it back down once he remembered where he was.
"Look what's in your hand and then look me in the eye and say that again" she said, causing him to snort as he put his vape away in his pocket. "You going on your break?" she asked, shifting as she turned to the colorful male.
"No" he shook his head. "Although…a smoke break would be nice…" he murmured with the turn of his head, sweating under the brunette's intense and blank stare. "Anyway, there's a weird guy hanging around up front" he said.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, he's just standing out there—has been for at least a while now" he nodded. "I don't know when he showed up, so he kind of startled the hell out of me when I finally realized he was there" he shrugged.
"Okay…? And you're telling us this because…?" she questioned with a raised brow.
"So one of you can go do something about him" he deadpanned.
"Of course…" she sweat dropped as she turned her head to look at the woman across from her, who was still wallowing in pain from her hangover.
"Aren't you supposed to be a man…?" Shirley grunted.
"Aren't you supposed to be forty?" Lance shot back as he leaned over, one hand now on his hip and the other gripping the doorway. "Getting hammered before work isn't very mature of you, Shirl."
"Neither is shoving my fist down your throat, but that ain't going to fuckin' stop me!" she growled as she lifted her arm, hardened lime green iris standing out within a sea of red.
"I'd like to see you try, Granny!"
"Brat! You know I ain't that old!"
"Welp, I guess I'll be the one to deal with our weirdo then…" Skylar sighed as she heaved herself up off the floor, slapping her hands against her knees as the two turned to her.
'What is she? An old man?' the two sweat dropped.
"While I'm doing that, you can go and get our resident drunk here some water and an Alka-Steltz from the staff room" she grasped the colorful man's shoulder, shoving him back out into the hall as she swung the closet door shut behind her—leaving the older woman inside alone and bathed in darkness once more.
"Can't believe you're actually still buying those for her…" Lance grumbled as he crossed his arms. "You know she does this to herself, right?"
"Lance, she has a problem" she calmly said.
"We all have problems" he huffed as he stormed away. "Honestly, Mr. Foster practically collects us in the same way this shelter collects strays…for an insensitive jackass, he sure has a lot pity in him…" he grumbled as he dug out his vape once again.
"You're still inside" she reminded him, causing him to flinch and grumble some more as he shoved it back in his pocket. Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose and looked down before throwing her head back and sucking in a deep breath…
Sometimes she forgets just how temperamental her coworkers can get with one another and why exactly she hates having to work three-person shifts.
Shaking her head, she made her way down the hall and towards the front of the building, already going over what she was going to say to this supposed stranger loitering around the foyer. She stopped as soon as she arrived, her gaze zeroing in on a head of green hair as a familiar man stood with his back to her while looking over the shelves of supplies the shelter sold to help new pet owners get started. Currently, he seemed to be intently staring at a row of collars as he mindlessly shuffled through their different sizes and colors.
"Um…can I help you?" her mouth opened before she could stop herself as her inner voice called her out like the rightful dumbass that she was. She watched as he turned, that bored look on his face quick to be replaced with a wide grin as his gaze brightened from behind his shades. He was still dressed in a manner that felt far too nice and expensive for the place he was currently.
"Oh, it's you—I didn't know you worked here" somehow…she didn't believe that as she peered up at him, mentally calling him out despite having no proof or reason to doubt him. Standing here next to him, it was only now that she realized just how big he was compared to her. Despite there being so little distance between their heights, his broad shoulders and muscular build made him appear larger. She liked to think she wasn't that short—most would consider her slightly above average height…yet he completely dwarfed her.
"Yes…I assume you have a dog?" she nodded with a weak smile.
"Huh?" he blinked.
"A dog" she repeated as she motioned to the collars he had been looking at. "Or were you thinking of getting one?" she asked.
"Oh…uh…" his smile grew strained. "Y-yeah…? Got one…recently…?" he muttered, sounding unsure of his lie as he said it without too much thought.
"Oh? What kind?" she watched as he once more turned his head, a nervous sweat now breaking across his brow as he looked back down at the collars. "If you're looking for something specific, then I can assure you we do indeed carry and sell a wide variety of accessories and supplies—all generously donated, of course" his sweating worsened as she stepped closer, unable to recall a single breed. But despite how nervous he was at the prospect of being caught in his lie…he couldn't help but find her attempts at professionalism to be cute as he watched her from the corner of his eye. Her words mainly went in one ear and out the other as she talked, his mind elsewhere as he observed her. His interest in her further piqued as he watched her shoulders relax the longer she spoke, her wariness towards him temporarily disappearing.
Her gaze softened as she started to rattle off a variety of dog breeds, hands animatedly moving as she pointed out a variety of accessories and supplies that were rather popular with most first-time pet owners. She fell into the role of helpful employee rather perfectly…yet she didn't really act like she was trying to forcibly sell him anything. Her words and movements showed a genuine desire to help and nothing more.
"You sure know a lot" he remarked, unintentionally cutting her off in the middle of her explanation about the differences and benefits between wet and dry food. He didn't mean anything bad with the comment, genuinely impressed by how knowledgeable she seemed to be despite her young age. "But to answer your question, I'm not sure what breed the…uh…big guy is exactly…" he cringed as she fell silent, the look in her cold eyes indiscernible as she turned her head.
"That so?" she hummed as she tilted her head. "That's pretty normal, so there's no need to worry" she assured, much to his relief. His fear of being caught in his lie so soon passed as he watched her look at the shelves once more. "Well…is there something in specific you're looking for?" she asked.
"Uh…" his gaze drifted back towards the collars in front of him. "Collar…?"
"Okay—do you know his measurements?"
"…No…"
"Okay" he once more began to sweat as she crossed her arms behind her back, giving him a closed-eyed smile that conveyed little emotion. "You mentioned that he was big, so we can assume that he's of the larger variety when it comes to breeds" she hummed in thought as she reached out. "For now, I suggest going for a standard large—you can always come back and exchange it if it doesn't fit. Is there a particular color you want?" she asked.
"Anything's fine…" he muttered, watching in slight amusement as her fingers instantly wrapped around an emerald colored collar and handed it to him. Following her to the front desk, he frowned as he watched that colorful man from before return and take his place behind the counter.
"Lance can get you all settled if this really is all you need" she said, ready to separate from him and return to the backroom. She soon stopped and turned to him before she fully left, an odd glint in her eyes as she stepped a bit closer. "Oh, before I go…there's something I want to say" she motioned for him to move even closer, causing him to raise a curious brow as he leaned down. "If you wish to lie Mr. Roronoa, then you should think what you're going to say first before showing up" he tensed as she pulled away with a small smile and left, disappearing towards the back of the building.
Despite the warming of his cheeks upon being called out on his lie, Zorocia couldn't help but grin at the knowledge that she remembered his name.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"I'm telling you, they're listening."
"Hm" Skylar hummed as she measured out the last of the kibble.
"Not only that, but they're always watching too—even now, I bet you they're watching us…" Phobos murmured as he lowered his voice, gray eyes nervously darting around the small kitchen as black, thinning strands of hair clung to his sweat-soaked forehead.
"They must not have much of a life then…" she murmured as she loaded the bowls on the cart next to the jugs of fresh water and left the kitchen. "What does this have to do with Mina getting a new phone again?" she asked.
"It has everything to do with that" he frowned. "Don't you know? Those wretched devices are nothing more than glorified spyware—tracking devices disguised as a life necessity" he hissed as he followed her into the dog room.
'I mean…he's not entirely wrong…' Skylar sweat dropped as she listened to the excited barks of the dogs in their cages—their bodies jumping and wiggling around in eager excitement at the thought of food. 'But…I don't think that's ever been a secret…'
"That's why I still have the same landline from when I was a young lad" he continued as they set to work. "Have the same computer as well" he added, chest swelling with pride at how far behind he was in the world of technology.
'Hm…Faith didn't touch her breakfast at all…' she stared down at the full bowl of untouched kibble from that morning, even the water dish next to it was still full. 'That's the second time this month…' her gaze flickered towards the Hovawart curled up on her bed and facing away from her. 'She's been eating fine since the last time this happened, so I wonder what's bothering her…' she could still hear Phobos ranting as she went about replacing the bowls of untouched kibble and water, his voice turning into nothing more than white noise. 'Ah, seems Comet might need his nails clipped soon…' her mind drifted as she continued giving the rest of the canines their dinner, ears perking at the sharp tapping of nails on hard flooring as the small chihuahua ran circles in his cage.
"Skylar."
"Hm?" she hummed as she turned her head.
"There's a guy out front asking for you…a really hot one…" Mina murmured as she shuffled on her feet, her freckled cheeks dusted a light pink as she thought about the man waiting in the foyer of the shelter.
'Him again? That's like the third time this week…' she sighed. "Phobos, you don't mind finishing up here by yourself, do you?" she asked, already knowing the answer even before the older man nodded. "If I'm not back by the time you're done, just get started on feeding the cats without me" she waved as she stepped out, closing the door to the dog room shut behind her as she followed alongside the other woman.
"You didn't tell me you were seeing someone" Mina grinned, a playful glint in her jade colored eyes as she nudged the brunette with her elbow. "Didn't expect you to have such great taste either…" she murmured.
"I'm not….and what's that supposed to me?" she huffed as she swatted the other woman away, brows furrowing as she watched her from the corner of her eye giggle…
She looked a lot better compared to that morning.
Her auburn hair, which had once been a tangled and unbrushed mess sloppily done in a ponytail, was now neatly brushed and styled into low bun. At some point she had finally decided to do her makeup as the prominent bags under her eyes were now gone while her lips had a glossy sheen and red tint to them.
"You're not?" Mina brightened. "Then, do you think you could introduce me to your friend? He is your friend, right?" she asked.
"Didn't you just get dumped yesterday…?" Skylar sweat dropped. She ignored the ginger's question, unsure how to explain to her that she and the strange man were mere strangers. 'Which is why I can't wrap my head around the fact why he keeps coming around…' despite it having been at least two weeks since she called him out on his lie of owning a dog during his first visit to the shelter, he still kept coming. 'He clearly doesn't own any pets nor wants any, so I don't get why he keeps showing up…' she frowned, unsure of the reason why he kept coming around when there was no reason. Not only that, but she also didn't understand why he insisted that she had to be the one he talked to for help.
It was as if the other employees didn't exist in his mind.
"That's in the past—it's ancient history now" Mina dismissed as they finally arrived at the front desk. "Just put a good word or two in for me or something, okay" and with that, she shoved her in the direction of the young man who was once again looking over the shelves of supplies like he always did when he showed up.
"I'll think about it…" she grumbled, ignoring the way the redhead stared at her with such bright and hopeful eyes as she approached Zorocia.
"Oh, there you—"
"We need to talk" she grabbed his hand without thought, tugging on his arm as he obediently followed her outside. "Why are you here?" she asked, unaware of the way his lips twitched as she let his hand go and turned.
"For my—"
"We both know you don't have a dog" she raised her hand, cutting him off before he could continue with that silly lie of his. Despite having already called him out on it, he still insisted that he needed supplies for a pet that obviously didn't exist. "So what's the real reason for your frequent visits?" she crossed her arms, leaning back against the building as she raised a questioning brow.
"If you must know," his lips quirked as he looked down at her in amusement, "there's this little mouse I keep wanting to see."
"Oh…if you wanted to look at the mice, then you should have just said so" she blinked, arms dropping to her side as she peered up at him with furrowed brows. "Geez, no reason to keep up your lie about having a dog if that's what you were interested in" she huffed.
"I'm talking about you…" he deadpanned as he pressed his hand against the wall next to her head and leaned over her, causing her to fall silent. He could almost hear the cogs in her brain screech to a halt as she owlishly blinked, taking a second to fully process what he said.
"E-eh? Me?" a light dusting of pink stained her cheeks as she jolted. "Why would you want to see me?" she asked.
"Well, you rarely come around the café anymore, so how else am I supposed to see you?" he questioned, causing her mouth to open and close as she struggled to respond. It was true that she had cut back on going to the café after that day they first met. She hated to admit it, but being approached by some stranger like that had startled her quite a bit. She wasn't used to people approaching her at random like that, let alone strange-looking men she didn't know.
"T-that didn't really answer my question!" she sputtered as she finally found her voice. "We don't even know each other!" despite his constant visits to the shelter, their conversations with one another only revolved around what was best for that imaginary dog of his. She wasn't sure why he insisted on keeping up the charade. Always asking her questions that solely revolved around the supplies that they carried and the different kinds of dogs there were. Sometimes she felt his questions were scripted with the way he'd ask them, so much so that he almost had the role of attentive pet owner down pat. She found it strange how satisfied he'd look whenever they'd separate, a wide grin on his face as he'd stand there looking proud of himself.
She's pretty sure he knew more about dogs and the proper way to care for them than he did her by this point.
"Don't know" he casually shrugged, a familiar grin tugging at his lips as he leaned further down. "There's just something about you that really intrigues me—that keeps me coming back" he liked the way her faint blush darkened and spread as she began to sputter once more. Her mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish as she stumbled incoherently in confused embarrassment, her body leaning further back against the building behind them as she shrank away from him. "You say we don't know each other, then how about we change that?" he suggested as he finally pulled away, burying his hand in his pocket as he dug out his phone.
"Wha…what…?" she blinked.
"So how about we get lunch together sometime this week or next—whenever you're free really" he grinned as he held his phone out to her. "Here, give me your number."
"O-okay…?" she nodded as she took his phone, mindlessly putting in her number without much thought as the cogs in her brain slowly started to turn. She was still at a loss about what was happening as she handed the phone back, her mind struggling to comprehend what it was she was essentially agreeing to.
"Great, I'll see you around" and with that, he turned on his heel—waving as he pocketed his phone. He looked rather cheery as he left, whistling a pleasant tune to himself as she continued to stand there in dumbfounded silence.
'What…what just happened…?' it took her a second or two to push off the wall, her legs shaking as she stumbled back into the shelter. 'Did I…did I just get…?' her face felt like it was on fire as her vision began to dizzyingly spin the longer she thought about their odd exchange.
"Oh! You're back!" Mina brightened. "So, did you put a good word for me?" she smiled before tilting her head as she watched the brunette slump against the desk. Her arms curled around the back of her head as the tips of her ears began to burn brightly. "Is…is that a no…?"
A/N: I'm a little iffy on this chapter, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to take a moment to fully introduce all of Skylar's coworkers and maybe even show a glimpse of what her work life is like. I do hope that the moments between her and Zorocia came out fine. Some feedback would be nice, but overall, I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter.