A/N: Some information to remember while reading this chapter and the 2 that follow.
1. The central character is named Kaiser; her family name. In spite of this, she is created as having no first name - for purposes of this being a reader insert.
2. Pussycat is a pet name she is referred to - Jerso calls her this.
3. Kaiser is spliced with snow leopard DNA, making her a human chimera.
"You smell different; peculiarly so." Heinkel collapsed onto the arm chair beside you, shaking free the intense stare you had on the novel in your lap. It was open, crooked at the spine, but you weren't reading it. Your eyes were trying hard to adjust, but every one of the words had in some way blended together, altering the text into something impossible to read. Vexed you shut the cover and unfolded your bare legs from beneath you, content with the way the bones eased up and cracked.
"Different," you reiterated. The blond man gave a nod. You lifted a brow to express your confusion. Sure you noticed it; the scent emanating off you was sharper than usual, but honestly you thought it was because you were coming down with the flu. A weak sigh escaped you and a gentle smile pulled at your lips. "I do feel a bit off, now that you mention it. Perhaps there is a bug going around."
You could not ignore the fleeting grimace on Heinkel's face as he sniffed towards you. A bitter warmth spread across your cheeks and up the back of your neck. "Do I smell terrible? You can be honest with me, Heinkel."
"No … pleasant actually." He focused his eyes elsewhere – blush shading his otherwise pale skin. "Like vanilla; your natural scent amplified."
How strange, you thought in bemusement. Sickness had a peculiar scent – an unhealthy one – like rot. But on you it did not.
"Be wise for you to perhaps stay in the barracks and rest today. We don't know how long it will be until we're stationed away from the Fort," Heinkel suggested. "Scar is out there still and once Kimblee recovers he'll more than likely push us to keep searching."
That was precisely the reason why you didn't want to stay cooped up; the less you did ensured the odds of your worth to the others. If you failed to pull your own weight – as the saying goes – there was no doubt in your mind that Kimblee would send you right back to the lab in which shaped you. That was not an option, and you thought nothing more on it.
"I will be present at mass for my duties, as expected." You noticed the stern look Heinkel aimed at you and gently placed your hand on his arm in assurance. "Trust me. I will take a rest if my condition worsens."
He concurred, but you had a nagging sense it would not be the last time he brought it up. You separated from him just as the door opened. A bulky figure of a man emerged from the corridor, setting the collar on his winter coat. His sudden inquisitive stare triggered a snort out of you.
"Morning, Darius. Unexpected of you to pop in."
"What are you on about, Kaiser?" Darius rubbed at the skin behind his ear. A scatter of red stained his face. "I came to see why you hadn't been to breakfast yet."
You snorted again, "Both of you, aye?" Placing the novel onto your knees, you heaved a sigh. "Don't worry so much. There's nothing wrong with me other than feeling a little unwell. I don't have much of an appetite in any case."
"Aye, well … good to hear. Mass will be starting before long; might want to get dressed." Darius averted his eyes. Similar to Heinkel he seemed unsure – about what you didn't know nor care.
You dragged yourself from the arm chair, wobbly at first as you stood up too soon. Playing it off as a mere accident, brought on by your dozing legs, you eased into the bedroom and shut the door behind you; just in time to catch yourself against the wall as a dizzy spell took you all at once. A sudden spark had been lit and a pleasant heat spread inside you, driving you to gasp in shock – more or less whining as excitement filled you.
Whatever you contracted was definitely not the flu.