writetomyheart | [Team 1] Flood Damage

~1300 Words of G-rated Vanitas & Repliku fic that was solely inspired by the terrible joke that in a modern AU Vanitas sells flood insurace.

“Then I better get started,” Vanitas grumbled, hanging up the phone and pushing the required paperwork to the bottom of his to-do pile.

He’ll get started… eventually.

Outside the office window, the rainstorm raged, and though he normally enjoyed the general gloominess of a rainy day, he did not enjoy all the work that seemed to crop up right after one. One of the many ironies of selling flood insurance.

He glanced up at the top of his computer monitor where his constant companion sat. A tiny purple and slightly demonic rabbit-like stuffed animal that Ven had gotten him ages ago as a joke.

*“The lady at the shop said it was called a Flood. I thought it was funny!” *

*“Hilarious,” Vanitas had muttered back.*

Still. He found himself unable to get rid of the creature either. There was something almost comforting about it’s red eyes and nubby paws.

Lately though his ‘friend’ has been looking a little worse for wear. Picking it up, he ran a finger down the creature’s nose. It was odd, a little creepy… Perfect for him. But a seam was coming undone around the Flood’s belly though .He kept meaning to get it fixed, but—

“Hey Vanitas!”

Vanitas jumped out of his seat with a shout, the rolling chair crashing to the ground behind him.

Peals of laughter echoed from the opening to his cubicle. Vanitas turned and glared at his amused coworker and occasional friend. Repliku was still doubled over in laughter.

Vanitas groaned and rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t that funny.”

He reached down to pick his chair back up, sliding it under the desk.

Repliku stood up and wiped under his eyes. “Yes it was. Usually I can never sneak up on you like that. Where’s your head today?”

Vanitas glared out the window at the storm. “Already thinking of how much work that’s gonna cause me.”

Repliku looked as well. “Oh… well… could be worse.”

“How?”

Repliku chuckled. “Did you hear? Riku and that guy from Outreach… Sora? They’re stuck in the elevator. It stopped working between the 13th and 14th floors.

Vanitas shuddered, “Yeah, that is worse. But you don’t seem worried about it. Isn’t Riku your cousin?”

Repliku huffed out a short derisive chuckle. “Riku’s stuck in an elevator with the guy he’s been crushing on since the Holiday party? Nope, I don’t feel sorry for him one bit. Especially since I guess Lea is the fireman helping them get out.”

“Lea?” Why did that name sound familiar? “The old Fire Safety Inspector?? Wasn’t he the one who crossed out all of the fire safety questions he had to ask and just replace it with ‘How easily can I set this on fire?’”

Repliku chuckled again, “Yep, that’s him…”

Vanitas rolled his eyes. “It’ll definitely be a while then... guess going out for lunch is out of the question.”

Another rumble of thunder shook the building.

“It was an option anyway?” Repliku asked with a wry grin. “How bout lunch in the lunchroom instead?”

“Deal,” Vanitas suddenly realized he still held his little stuffed Flood in hand. He went to put him back when something spilled out. A few loose pellets clattered to the ground as Vanitas turned the Flood over, realizing that the worn seam had finally given up and ripped.

“Ooops. Flood damage,” Repliku said dryly, already leaning down and picking up the few pellets that had fallen to the floor. “Good think you know a thing or two about that.”

Vanitas sighed deeply, “Haha… he was kinda on his last legs anyway.”

Gently he placed the Flood back on the desk. Repliku reached up as well, placing the pellets next to the creature in an upturned pop bottle cap he must have found in the trash nearby.

“Sorry he ripped though,” Repliku said. “He was a gift right? From a friend?”

Vanitas nodded but didn’t explain. He didn’t have to though as Repliku seemed to always understand his silences. Instead, Repliku clapped him on the shoulder.

“Lunch? Maybe a fairy godmother will sew him back up while we’re gone.”

Huffing out a derisive chuckle, Vanitas rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure…”

Together, they made their way down to the lunch area, taking the stairs rather than risk the elevator (Vanitas didn’t trust Lea to get him out of a paper bag, much less an elevator). They had to pass through one of the main hallways of their companies public spaces to get through to the lunch area and Vanitas couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the sign:

Kingdom Hearts Insurance:

We keep it safe under lock and key

“What’s the eyeroll for?” Repliku asked, slipping his phone into his pocket. He had been typing something as they walked down the stairs, but Vanitas had been lost in his thoughts to wonder what it was.

Vanitas shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just… the slogan is a little schmoopy.”

“It always was,” Repliku smirked. “Now, c’mon. I know lunch will make you feel better.”

They ate lunch in silence, hearing snippets of updates from the elevator situation. Apparently Lea was able to get Sora and Riku out, and the two decided to have the rest of the day off rather than risk the elevator again.

“Hmm,” Repliku frowned around his peanut butter and jelly, “I guess Riku got lucky after all. Must have swayed Sora with his charms in the elevator.”

Vanitas wasn’t the best at discerning tone, but he thought he detected a hint of jealousy in Repliku’s voice. “Them taking the rest of the day off doesn’t mean they’re taking it off together.”

Repliku raised an eyebrow up at him and Vanitas nearly choked on his apple in laughter.

“Okay, well, maybe they are. Still, probably good for Riku though. Might remove the stick from his ass and he’ll stop pestering me about signing up for those “teamwork and compassion” classes.” Vanitas rolled his eyes. “Honestly your cousin is kind of a dick.”

Repliku shrugged. “Occasionally, but yes, I think that’s mostly because he’s either pushing himself too hard or trying to impress Sora. Maybe this will be good for him.”

“Maybe…”

They finished their lunch in silence before returning to their floor for the afternoon. The rain had finally let up, so Vanitas just knew there would be a flurry of phone calls and emails within a few minutes of people discovering that their basements and garages flooded and wondering if they have insurance for that.

As he walked back to his desk, Vanitas saw his little stuffed Flood sitting back on his computer, a small blue bow around its navy colored neck. “Huh?”

Cautiously, he picked the stuffed creature up, turning it over. A line of bright pink stitches now lined it’s belly, a little crooked but doing it’s job.

“Are they okay?” a quiet voice on the other side of his cubicle asked. “I’m still learning to sew, but I had a mending kit in my desk drawer.”

Vanitas looked over at Naminé, who tucked her hair behind her ear shyly. “You… fixed it?”

“Yeah,” Naminé grinned. “I already had lunch, so Repliku texted to ask if I could. I gave it my best shot.”

Vanitas looked over at Repliku who grinned widely.

“That little creature has kinda become a mascot. Couldn’t let him suffer Flood damage for too long.”

Surprising himself, Vanitas laughed. Even more of a shock to himself, he then said “Thank you.”

Naminé’s eyes widened, but she grinned widely. “You’re welcome.”

Feeling a little bit better, Vanitas sat back at his desk just as the phone rang.

“Kingdom Hearts Insurance, where we keep it safe under lock and key. How can I help you?”

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knittenkitten

[Team 1] Flood Damage

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