"Binary Code" (GASA4 Cashier x Reader Sequel) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 3.

Cashier picked at his skin, from his arms to his hands, he had rubbed his flesh to the point of blood at this point and had to now keep a box of band-aid's behind the counter just incase it happened again. He couldn't sleep, he was drained and there was one thing he longed for the most. Nicotine. The stupid smokes he couldn't live without and the stupid promise he made to you that he knew meant so much to you.

"Oh, (Reader)." He sighed, feeling guilty about his cravings. In fact, he hadn't seen you in a bit since- since- you and him had sat on that tree, talking and making a promise that was getting harder to keep by the minute. What day was it? How long had he gone? Cashier was losing himself, feeling irritable and depressed, unable to release his problems by smoking of course, and not even being able to sleep as his mind simply wouldn't let him. In a sense, Cashier was sort of glad you hadn't shown up in a bit as he didn't want you to see him like this, so vulnerable, so pathetic simply because he couldn't have a smoke. That was depressing in itself, at least to Cashier.

The clock rung and Cashier stepped outside like usual to go on his break and continued to pick at his skin without realizing. His mind was buzzing with words and garbled thoughts he couldn't make sense of, irritability growing worse and stability lowering as he trembled, cupping his hands together and moving them rather close to his chest, not moving in fear of slipping up and grabbing his cigarettes. The birds chirped. The wind blew. The sounds became too loud for Cashier who heard ever little thing around every corner and quickly rushed back inside, digging in his apron pockets for his little white box of cigarettes before walking back outside and taking one out. He frowned and tried to second guess himself, doing his best to refrain from the urge.

"I promise, Skates."

Those words echoed in the back of Cashier's head as he took a huff of his cigarette. With promise comes strength. The kind of strength Cashier didn't have against his addiction. And with a few more whiffs of smoke, he threw the now burned up, white stick onto the ground, crushing it under his heel. He sighed in regret, staring at the cigarette for a brief moment before shaking his head, snapping himself of out the trance he was in and then walked back inside the store and resumed his spot behind the counter.

He slipped his apron on and adjusted his orange pin that sat on his apron before slumping back over the counter, tired and worn out, his insides feeling weak as the after effects of the smoke came into play. As soon as he had slumped down, he had fallen into a deep sleep not to be awoken for a while. When he did manage to wake up, he went on with his life, tending to costumers in the store and just stocking things from time to time.

When the clock buzzed, he stepped outside and walked to the back of the store, away from the public eye and pulled out a box from his apron pocket, then opening it and pulling out a cigarette. He stared at it, feeling guilty.

"No, I'm doing this for (Reader)." He trembled, holding it in his hand before something snapped in his brain. An urge that had taken his over and continued to do so as he lit the cigarette and inhaled its toxins, dopamine releasing in his brain almost immediately. Somewhere in the back of Cashier's head, he had a small voice calling out to him and yelling at him to quit, to stop for good for your sake. But Cashier didn't bother to listen. He couldn't. Cashier's brain blocked out any guilt, and regret he might've had in that moment and replaced it with a euphoria that could only be quenched by a smoke break. And it was certainly quenched.

~~

Cashier picked at his band-aids as he heard the door open to reveal you walking in and towards the counter.

"Hey (Reader)." Cashier stated, looking up and smiling at you who looked down at his arms.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Cashier, wide-eyed, remembered you and him hadn't seen each other since he gave up smoking for good, well, at least since you thought he did.