Chapter Three

3.1

Wikus heard a loud banging as he opened his eyes to the bright morning light. He blinked, hearing the familiar clicks and buzzes of his Prawn body, before realizing that this wasn't what he was used to. He could feel the soft bedding underneath him, two pillows supporting his head, and a blanket tucked around him. It had been a long time since he had woken up like this.

He resisted leaving the warm bed, wanting to remain in the protection and memories it provided him but the more he could hear the clicking of the clock hand and heard the banging from outside, the more he knew to ready himself. He opened his mouth to breathe deeply and felt the wiggle of the tentacles. As he finally stood up from the bed, he was disheartened to see that his body was still that of a Prawn.

He had known, of course, that he hadn't changed over night but he had wanted things back to normal so badly. He placed his claw on the metal that was permanently on his chest and just thought of what this meant. In the eyes of the law, he was Tania's pet, but in their eyes, he was finally back at home with her.

He sat on the bed and then looked across at a mirror. He looked at the reflection before bowing his head. Sometimes he avoided even looking into water so that he wouldn't see himself and what he had become. He heard his mouth click a little more and then heard the front door of the house closed. He straightened his back and felt his heartbeat quicken.

He looked towards the window, the door to the room, and his reflection. He wasn't sure what to do. Did he need to leave? Was she with someone else? Would she have changed her mind? He could always try to do something else for her, his options as a Prawn were very limited but he had skills from the years he had spent as a human.

His wide eyes took her in as she stood in the doorway. He knew how attractive she was but even if she wasn't, he would still love her. If their roles were switched, he would still be protective of her and never let anyone hurt her. He looked away nervously. Her hair had been washed less than an hour ago and was tied up in a messy bun, he didn't even have hair.

"Hey," Tania said as she came over to him and placed a hand on the hard shell of his wrist, he looked down at her hand and then up at her. She seemed to be touching him just as if he were still human. "Did you get a good night's rest?" she asked and he blinked at her. She was treating this as if it were something they did every day. This was not how he had ever thought their everyday would be. "Wikus?" she asked, "Are you okay?"

Weird. He clicked before pausing, he looked to her searching for understanding and saw her nodding along but he wasn't certain she understood. It's different, but good. He tried to smile to her but Prawn emotions didn't always translate to those that humans had.

"You want to stay here, right?" she asked and Wikus nodded quickly. He put his claw up to his collar again and tapped it. "I mean, you wouldn't prefer being….there…right?" she asked and he looked at her sadly and like a lost puppy.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her cheek with his forehead. He felt her throw her arms around him too, first gently and barely touching him before it deepened. "I missed you," she told him before pulling back and gazing into his eyes. She put her hand on his cheek, then chest, then shoulder, spreading her fingers out to feel the change in his body's shape and texture.

Wikus just sat still and watched her. If she wanted to feel how different his body was to the one she had known before then he would let her. He tilted his head to the side. Are you okay?

"I'm good," she said and saw how relieved he was. "Let's go and eat breakfast. I'll make something hot for you. I'm sure that you haven't eaten a hot breakfast for some time," she said and Wikus watched her. He looked at his body again. She had touched him, kissed him, been with him. He felt guilty asking for too much but she seemed willing to give it.

He stood up and then looked over to the vase with the metal flowers he had crafted for her. He took them out and then carefully set them in the metal vase again and arranged them, turning each one carefully. As he reached the stairs, he put one foot down and looked around. This was a weird experience for him. How could going down the stairs of one's own home be as new an experience as this felt.

At the bottom of the steps, he saw Tania there ready to help him if he needed it. He tilted his head to the side. She was still so caring and loving as she always had been. He really was beyond lucky to have her.

3.2

It felt strange sitting at the dinner table on a chair with a plate of toast and wide brimmed cup with milk in front of him. This wasn't usually how he dined in this body and he felt awkward. Tania was watching him curiously and that made him feel even more exposed.

"I'm not sure what to get for you to eat but we can figure this out," she said and Wikus let a tentacle graze over the top of the buttered toast. He watched Tania who was staring at him as one would look at a weird creature - which was exactly what he was - in a biology class. He closed his eyes and then focused on the bread in front of him.

Picking it up with his claw he attempted to break it into pieces and was able to pick up the smaller pieces with his tentacles and push them into his mouth where he chewed and swallowed. He blinked at it. It was such a strange experience for him. Fresh bread with butter. He liked the taste still but it was different, his body wasn't used to it. It seemed…alien to him.

After he swallowed it was as if all the parts of it, the flour, the water, the yeast, was decomposing through his system and he let out a noise of shock without meaning to. Tania still watched him and Wickus felt guilty as he looked over at the tin of cat food that was calling to him.

He wanted to eat that instead but Tania, his special angel, had made him breakfast in an attempt to have him feel like he fit within this house and they could enjoy the type of breakfast which they used to. His stomach groaned uncomfortably and he sat upright in shock at the sound of noises. He looked to Tania but his eyes would always return to the stack of cat food tins. No. She was trying. He had to try too.

Tania watched him and frowned before standing up and grabbing the top can. She grabbed the tab and pulled it open for him. She placed it in front of him with a smile and saw how eagerly he was looking at it. Something must have drastically changed about his metabolism, well…something had changed about his whole body to have him be like this.

"Here," she said and Wickus lifted the can up and let his tentacles do their work. As he caught Tania watching him, he closed his eyes and pulled the can closer to his mouth. He enjoyed the salty taste of the salmon and the processed nature. It was also the right consistency and texture that he enjoyed and he wasn't aware of the way that his body was reacting with pleasure to this taste.

"Let me know which ones you like best," she said as she leaned forwards watching him and Wickus nodded. "I want to buy you your favorites." She reached out to take his claws in her hand and he held her hand back. She could tell he was gazing at her lovingly and she loved him too. She laughed as he made sure to clean the can but it was a pleasant laugh at enjoying their time together not heavily coated with judgement the way that most humans saw him.

Wickus was about to say something but they were interrupted by Kiva's wails, Tania stood up but placed her hand on her husband's exoskeleton shoulder and shook her head. "You stay here and rest, I'll see to him," she said. She looked to the front door and her stomach churned. "I put the signs up stating that you are here as my pet. You are allowed to the fences but not further unless I'm with you - I know it's stupid but it's…it's…"

The rules, Wickus nodded in understanding. He looked to the door wondering whether he would ever be allowed to live an independent life when he looked like this. Well, a life with Tania and Kiva even if he would have to remain enclosed for the rest of his years was better than the oppressive world of District 10. Hopefully Christopher would make him aware of his presence when he returned.

Wickus sighed and stared upwards where Tania was seeing to their little boy. He had a little boy. That made him happy even if he was now a completely different species. He walked over to the steps before hearing a banging sound at the door. He turned to it nervously, taking a few steps back.

"We know you've got one in there with you!" a man yelled in a voice that made Wickus panic.

"Such disgusting creatures should be beheaded!" a woman said and Wickus felt his panic grow. He nervously reached for the door handle. If you were in District 9 or District 10 and you didn't answer to someone trying to see you then they might take that as a hostile threat or that you were avoiding a crime and the punishments would get worse.

Tania had said that he'd be safe here. He could hear his clicking, his chest plates shifting and his smaller arms nervously twitching. He heard the sound of something being thrown at the door and then saw there to be a crowbar at the side. They were breaking in?

He put his hands up, all four of them, in surrender. He didn't want to hurt anyone and he didn't want to be hurt. People scared him now that he was no longer seen as one of them. He saw the door open and then felt something hit him, a bag of garbage with a used diaper inside. He took slow breaths. Peaceful surrender was better. Non violence was better. You had to prove that you were not the enemy if you were a Prawn since people obviously thought that you would only do them harm.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Tania asked as Wickus saw her stand in front of him protectively. "This is my Prawn! I paid good money for him! He's mine! I own him." She stated. "It is against the law for you to mess with my pet."

Wickus twitched. He knew that she had to say this but this angry mob only made reality sink in. He may be living among people but he was only surrounded by them, he could never again become a part of them.

End of Chapter Three

Thank you for reading

Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Two

Emiboss, furrywing