Random BUBBLES

A Little Different (random ocs)

Why do we allow ourselves to drown in a sorrow called depression? Why do we allow ourselves to get high in a happiness called addiction?

He couldn't stop himself from picking up the syringe and performing the same ritual every night after he came home from work. He prayed a silent unheard prayer, muttered a soft sorry before injecting himself. His unseen tears stayed behind his eyelids as he allowed the overwhelming feeling take over his weak body. Once again, he dwelt in a world he feared he would be unable to leave one day. Even so, that fear keeps all his other fears away. The fears that he dare not face. The fears that kept tearing him apart. The fears that will not allow him to live.

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When you are greeted with the same surroundings everyday, gradually you will get tired of it and that was what he was facing now. Dex didn't like feeling stagnant especially being in a cubicle for 8 hours a day with an hour break. He can't complain though since he's got a job and all. But jobs always have their down point and being stuck in the cubicle was one. Dex likes to adventure. He had been a freelance photographer at one point until his mother couldn't handle him being full-timeless. He decided to get a reporter job but what he didn't expect was to be stuck doing paperwork all day, sorting out what comes out next in the magazine, making sure the page numbers were right, making sure nothing goes astray. He hates that though. He feels jealousy creeping under his skin each time he sees photographers go in and out the office, passing his cubicle to get to the person in charge of photos. He had asked if he could be a photographer but they said he lacked the experience and there were enough photographers for now. He sighed for the umpeeth time as he stacked the completed magazine and put them in a file to be combined later on.

He did his usual routine of packing the magazines and double checking until he noticed a shadow that had casted itself on his work. It was distracting so he looked up to see someone staring down at him. That person wasn't that big but he was definitely quite tall. His sharp features fit the green eyes that shone lightly with the lack of light. Dex paused with his work and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Are you Dexter?" The person asked in a slightly high pitched voice. Dex nodded but shook his head as well, making the person tilt his head in confusion. "Is that a yes or no?"

"My name is Dex. Not Dexter," he corrected the stranger who just gave him a tight smile.

"Dex. I thought that was short for Dexter. Anyways, I heard you were a freelance photographer?" The person asked and he nodded in response. "Interesting. Can I see some of your shots?" Dex went rigid for a moment but nodded anyways. Surely this person meant no harm. Dex plugged in his USB drive and opened the folder where all his photos were kept. The person stared silently as he scrolled through. Once he went through 2 folders, the person patted him on his shoulder. An odd gesture for Dex but not one he questioned.

"You have quite the skill for photography. Now, what's a guy like you doing here sitting in this godforsaken cube? You should be out there with your camera in hand," the person chuckled and Dex could only stare at him.

"Are you serious....?" He whispered and the person nodded while smiling more genuinely.

"Why don't you hear me out? Be my assistant and we could both be out there taking photos instead of sorting through the pages all day?" The person asked. Dex felt happy but in a way, he was also being cautious. He had been left hanging before by people who wanted his service but never paid or contacted him of the place and time.

"But I don't know you," was his reply. The person smiled and slid into his cubicle. He pulled his arm up, resulting in Dex getting up spontaneously and dragged him to the office where all the photographers went to drop their photos. He had never been into that room but part of him told him that it was a treasure trove.

The doors opened and stacks and stacks of papers filled the room. The room seemed empty at first until a tuff of brown hair emerged from among the papers behind the table that was the only visible thing apart from the chair.

"Oh? Oh. What seems to be the matter, Kerr?" The man in his 30s asked while standing up and fixing his tie. Dex blinked at the mess in the room and internally cringed but his eyes caught the stacks of photos at one corner and his heart flipped.

"I told you to call me Max already, Paul," the person called Max said while walking over with Dex. Paul pushed his glasses up and sighed.

"There are just too many things around, you know. I only call you with what I remember. Oh, and who might this be?" Paul asked while noticing Dex who shifted uncomfortably.

"Ah. Glad you asked. This is Dex, one of your workers out there on the desk," Max introduced him. Paul squinted his eyes as he looked at Dex from top to bottom.

"I haven't been out of this office to look at my workers recently. I must say I'm sorry for not recognising my own worker. But what business does he have in my office? Broken pages? Messy photos?" Paul asked in a wary voice. Max shook his head and patted him on the shoulder.

"No. I was just thinking of getting him out of the cube and into the wilds. I could use a person like him on the fields," Max suggested and for a moment, Dex saw fatigue cloud his boss' eyes. He wasn't even sure if he was listening anymore. Paul sat down on his chair and knocked his head on the table a few times before looking up again.

"Is he okay?" Dex whispered to Max who just nodded with a smile.

"He's just ridiculously stressed with all these paperwork," Max stated the obvious.

"And this boy has the skills you are looking for?" Paul asked while gesturing at Dex. Max nodded.

"I heard from the higher ups that they didn't assign him as a photographer because of the lack of space. I know he would need a bit of polishing that is why I'm offering him a job as my assistant. I can see he likes photography and he's definitely itching to get off his chair," Max explained. Paul nodded and rubbed his temples.

"I'll.... talk to someone about this. Give me a day okay? I'll get back to you as soon as I get that stack cleared up," Paul sighed again.

They left Paul's office and Max smirked at Dex who was just confused at Max. They didn't even know each other so why was Max so fixated on Dex to be his assistant? How did he even know that he took photos? Was it his freelance or could he be telling the truth and the higher ups told him? What was his relation with the higher ups then? Dex's mind was just filled with questions until he saw Max's hand in front of his face. He flinched.

"What are you thinking about? Your mind sounds awfully noisy," Max joked.

"Just wondering about you. And why do you want me as an assistant so badly?" Dex spilt his thoughts honestly. Max gave a soft laugh.

"Like I said, you have the skills and I am in need of a partner. Is that not reason enough for you?" Dex pursed his lips as he thought about his reply. He guess it was a good enough reply but there was just an inkling in his mind that tells him it wasn't that simple.