Zootopia: Mammals of the Atom
Chapter 2: First Class Encounter
Water; that's all that could be felt hitting the creature's bare flesh. It had no idea how long it has been out, but it was long enough to be completely soaked to the bone. Sure being what it was had certain benefits to not be affected by diseases that came with such weather like malaria, but it didn't mean being both wet and cold were any less of a pain. So the creature made it's attempt to slowly move from where it laid; made hard by how sore it's body felt all over. Luckily that'll all go away soon enough. It never did feel soon enough though. It got up to it's knees to look over it's surroundings. At first it had wondered was if it was back in New York, but that couldn't be. What little could be seen through the rain let it know that the street placement with the building structures, and size of some, didn't match any street corner in the city it knew. How it got here had to wait though; it needed to find shelter from the storm.
Once this mysterious being got on it's feet it wandered through the baron streets of this foreign city in hopes to find a building that was open for it. Only when walking did it notice the harsh winds blowing through the rips and tears within it's suit. Must've been in a fight of some sort, but with who it could not remember. There were a lot of people who wanted this creature and it's friends dead by any means. Apocalypse could've made a comeback again, or Magneto could've went nuts again, maybe one of many anti-mutant militia, or perhaps some cosmic entity... that was it! It remembered now: crisis in New York, planet appearing in the sky, everyone panicking, everything going white, and... the world ended. At least that's what was assumed to of happened after everything had failed, but the world around it seemed fine if not alien to it. Whatever had happened to it would have to wait as the creature spotted a building that still had some amount of lights on, and proceed forward to it.
Within said building was the small fennec fox, Finnick rummaged through the items of his store; setting things up well for tomorrow. He would've been home by now, but sadly the storm picked up way too fast as he took storage for the shop. Now that he was stuck here he decided to get some extra work done to pass the time. Not that it worked since the storm showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Luckily he had the foresight to have parked his van in the back alley near the shop's back entrance before work. Sure it had a good setup to spend the night in, but it didn't make him any less ticked to be stuck there the night.
"Damn weather mammals can't even tell when it's gonna rain." Finnick grumbled to himself as he sorted through things thinking about his girlfriend, "Girl's gonna get me an ear full tomorrow I just know it."
Finnick was just about ready to head in for the day when he heard a knock on the glass door of the shop. The tiny fox just sighed to himself. Couldn't whoever was out there tell that they we're closing soon? In fact second question what kind of idiot would be traveling through the city in this kind of weather? However Finnick knew that he couldn't just leave to let whoever is out there to handle the storm like this. Sure he could be a jerk at times, but he wasn't that much of a jerk. So he made his way to the door to open it for whoever was outside.
"Okay dumb, dumb what brings you to my shop in this kind of weathe..." Finnick stopped in his track when he saw what was outside. What stood in front of the door was a tall yet scrawny creature he had never seen before. Whatever it was gave him pause.
"Well..." it said with a weak voice, "...are you just going to stand there, or are you going to let me in Pipsqueak?"
Getting over his hesitation, Finnick made his way to the door to open it to this stranger. Once done the creature quickly made it's way inside; thankful to finally be in someplace warm and dry. It didn't mind the fact that the one who allowed it passage was a small fox that barely came up half way to it's knee. After all seeing an anthropomorphic animal was nothing new for it to see. Remembering that one time it encountered a talking raccoon and tree from space. If it didn't know any better it would've called this place the raccoon's home planet; if the look of the area so far didn't indicate they didn't have the capability of space travel were on par with it's earth.
"Thanks." was all it could muster as it's body began to shiver away the remaining cold from itself.
"No problem." Finnick responded while trying to trying to find the guts to say more it this very odd being in front of him, "…So um…" he coughed, 'Just don't say something stupid. You have no idea what this thing is capable of.' he thought, "…So yeah… you're lucky to have stumble on a charitable business, so we pride ourselves on helping others. Even animals as freaky looking as you." 'Damnit!' he kicked himself for that one.
The creature let out a low growl with that remark. However it's attention was taken by how much water that dripped from it's body, "Do you have a towel?" it asked.
Not to accidentally offend this strange again, Finnick just gave it a nod and ran over to give it one. For the next few minutes all he did was sit at the checkout counter; watching as the being in front of him dried itself off. He just couldn't get over just how freaky this thing looked to him. It had little to no sign of fur on it's body; except a long mane going down from it's head. It wore an odd get up of what appeared to be a one piece suit, or maybe two pieces connected at the waist for all he knew. The colors were an odd choice being white and black with some orange covering some padded areas along it, and judging by how badly it was torn up showed that it got itself in quite the pickle before it came to his shop. Once it was done with drying out it's hair it threw the towel around it's shoulders showing that it was done as it turned back to Finnick.
"Thanks for that." it said only to notice that Finnick was staring, "Something wrong Pipsqueak, or does my appearance still freak you out."
That was enough to snap him out of it, "Not like you can blame me. Not everyday someone around here sees a… whatever you are Baldy."
The creature growled again from that, "What are you a professional asshole, or did I catch you on a bad day?"
Finnick almost busted out laughing from that. Whatever this creature was he liked it, "Well seeing how that storm has me stuck here; I'd say it's a bit of both."
"Well then I guess I have enough time to get your question out of the way. For your information I'm human."
"Yeah... no idea what that is." Finnick replied, "Guess that means you ain't from around these parts eh Baldy?"
"Stop calling me Baldy." the creature growled back.
"Yeah well I don't like being called Pipsqueak, so I guess that makes us even." Finnick sighed to himself knowing there was one way around these stupid nicknames, "I guess that means we should at least introduce ourselves if we wanna get away from this." he cleared his throat so he could be the first to do so, "Names Finnick. It ain't Pipsqueak, sure ain't Smallfry, or any other small related nicknames. Just Finnick, and you are?"
The creature was hesitant to give this Finnick such an answer. Even with the kindness he showed, it always felt that the least amount of people that were close the better. Though it guessed he deserved some kind of an answer. Something to help satisfy his curiosity.
"My name is... is X-23."
Somewhere unknown
From within the confines of an old warehouse some things were being plotted. The building itself was littered with many different mammals of various sizes, but most of which were the size of wolves or large cats. Inside many of these animals were organizing what they made from the days earnings. The money they sift through came from shop and business that were already under their collective paws and hooves. Said money will go great with funding their enterprise for future endeavor they had planned. Some of these mammals were preparing for routine combat training exercise. Rather it be firearm or hand to hand; all were necessary for what was to come. On high was the one who was orchestrating whole lot of them.
Inside of the office stood the mammal in charge of the whole operation. Upon this room he surveyed all of the goings on in the entire building. His desk cluttered with an assortment of maps, files, and tools for the mission that he had in store. So far from what he could gather no one knew of him or of his organization's existence, and those on the outside who did, knew to keep their mouths shut. That is if they wanted to face the consequences of such boldness. Which is what he didn't want to hear when two of his associates, a wolf and panther, came in to meet with him.
"What do you have for me today gentlemen?"
The two weren't particularly happy to be reporting anything that would be considered bad news to their boss. However they knew things would be a lot worse if they said nothing at all. He demonstrated what would happen to a small few who tried to go against his authority. To make it short there wasn't much left of the poor mammal's face when they were done cleaning the remains off the floor.
"Boss we hate to inform you this, but we have reason to believe someone is going against us behind our backs." the panther told him.
Their boss took his attention away from the window overlooking the warehouse to face the two, "What?"
The wolf's tail was practically between his legs when hearing his boss's low tone. "A fennec fox; he owns a thrift store in the downtown area. We caught him talking with the police."
Their boss growled, "What do they know?"
"Enough to know that we exist." the panther answered, "There's more." they noticed their boss tighten his grip on the desk, "The cops that he was talking to are officer Hopps and Wilde, Sir."
Their Boss's growls only intensified, "I see." the boss took a deep breath before sitting on the chair behind the desk, "Someone isn't taking us seriously today. By next night I want you to go back to that shop and deal with him."
The two mammals nodded and left their boss to prepare for their encounter with the thrift shop. Leaving their boss to ponder their next move. Though this news did have him a bit on edge. If the first rabbit and fox officers had even a small amount of a hint of what he was up to; then it was only a matter of time before 'He' finds out he was still around. Perhaps it was about time to move up the time table on the plan.
Laura believed she was a person who would be ready for pretty much anything that was thrown her way. However being sent to another world in where she'd be in a shop with a small talking/cackling fox was not something one easily prepared for. Not long after telling Finnick her codename he started laughing his head off. For the last few minutes it's been practically nonstop; with him taking a break to breath only to start up again. Laura felt the urge to shut him up via claws pointed inches away from his throat, but that was the old her. Current her was a lot more patient and cool headed; for the most part.
"Are you done yet?"
Finnick answered her question with a nod, "I'm sorry it's just your name… X-23 right?" Finnick snickered slightly when he asked with Laura answering with a nod, "It's that it sounds like…" snicker, "… it sounds like a rejected energy drink from the nineties." Finnick could no longer contain himself and bust out laughing again.
Laura groaned at how annoying this was getting, "It's not that funny."
"Yes it is!" Finnick replied with signs that he was finally calming down, "Mostly cause it don't take a genius to figure out that, that ain't no name!" he now got serious with that remark, "That is a letter and a number. What do you go by X, or is it miss 23? Ain't no one give a kid that name less they hate them or something."
He wasn't entirely wrong with that statement, but in order to get him off her back she knew what needed to be done, "My real name is Laura." she answered with a sigh, "Laura Kinney."
"Laura?" Finnick pondered on that, "Guess that name is normal enough. But what's up with that other stupid name you tried going by?"
"It's a long story, and it's one I rather not go into with you."
Finnick just shrugged at this response. Upon looking her over again though only one thing came over his mind, "No offence though but looks like you could use new clothes." Laura looked over her torn up suite, "Don't know what you been through, but those things look like you had one hell of a throw down."
"You don't know the half of it." she whispered under her breath.
Finnick sighed to himself before continuing, "Well… I guess I could offer you some spare ones on the house." Laura gave him quizzical look, "I told ya this is a charitable business. Just pick something before I come to my senses."
So Laura made her way around the shop in order to find something that caught her eye. Finnick keeping an eye on her making sure she didn't take anything other than the clothes he offered. Satisfied with what she had picked out she made her way to the dressing room nearby. After a few moments in there trying out different pair of clothes did she came out sporting a whole new getup that felt the most comfortable to her. Now she sported a black-leather jacket with a red shirt with a picture of a rock band featuring wolves underneath; as well as an old pair of jeans that clearly had it's colors nearly worn out. Footwear was the difficult part with most of them that fit her were missing the front half meant for the predators paw pads. It took awhile but she found a pair that felt okay with her; however having half of her feet exposed felt odd.
"Eh… I guess you look okay enough." Finnick complemented.
Laura growled at that until she noticed it was still coming down hard outside, "Any idea when that's suppose to stop?"
"No idea according to the weather mammals. Don't suppose you have anywhere to stay?" Laura answered him with a look that said it all, "Yeah you're right that was a dumb question. You know… there's a couch in the office that could fit you. Case you're interested."
"You sure you're okay with a 'freak' like me sleeping on it?"
"Oh yeah I'll just burn it when you're done." that earned him a scowl, "I'm joking; jeez you're grim. Anyway I'll be out back in my van if you need anything, and don't break anything."
After that, Finnick left via the back entrance leaving Laura by herself. She really had no idea what to make of the small fox. On one hand he was completely generous for allowing such accommodation, and other times he seemed content with pissing her off. Though she did know it would be wise to take advantage of the situation that allowed her to stay someplace with roof overhead. So she made her way to the office room to get some well needed sleep; with the belief that things would only get more wild by morning on this strange world.
End of Chapter 2
A/N: Well here is chapter two for this fic. I'm sure some people probably expected Wolverine since he is the most popular character, but I feel that X-23 would fit best as a term to help grow into her own. In case some of you didn't catch it; in terms of the Marvel universe this story takes place after the events that lead up to Secret Wars (2015). Anyway I hope you guys enjoy and don't forget to leave a review. Till next time.