Oneshot: Sharp and Blunt
More-I need more!
The yellow streak whizzed down the metal hallways of the lab, beings alike herself dodging out of her way as fast as they could. Some had fur-she could smell it, but whenever she reached out for it, they ran, shutting themselves off in a room somewhere or diving into an elevator.
It was upsetting-she was hungry-she needed that, needed it so much and yet-
-Yet no one was letting her take some…
She stood alone at the end of the hallway, growling and scraping a claw against the metal wall in frustration. The smell of fur was gone, as was...everyone...this was going to take so much work and she didn't have any time for that…
"Hey."
She jumped at the voice. It was high and nasally, but monotone. It was an odd sound; the tone didn't match up with the pitch; it felt as though this person-whoever they were-should've yelled at her, but they didn't. Instead, they were calm, if not a little nervous.
She glared around the hall, blue eyes narrowing at the voice. "Who's there?!"
No answer at first, but movement at the elevator at the end of the hallway caused her to spin right in its direction. Hair...she could smell hair…
The figure approached her slowly, a shadow against the silver floors of the hall. She squinted, and realized they had their hands up, shuffling towards her as though afraid she'd...well, maybe they did have some reason to be afraid of her…
She held up a clawed hand, glaring into the darkness, "Get into the light. Now."
"I'm doing that." The voice assured, their shadow poking out into the dim light of the hallway. She lowered the claw, watching the rest of them step out.
Their fur was a silvery gray, near matching the hallway's metal. It had a white sheen in the lights, and it almost appeared to wrap them in a halo. A flat, dark gray nose obscured their face, but their chest and stomach was a pale gray-almost appearing white in the overhead light.
The person turned their head to the side, revealing the...strangest head shape she'd ever seen. It was curved, a short crest of antenna crowning the back. Small eyes watched her, their red tint seeming to search for something in her own. They continued to hold their hands up as they stepped up in front of her, a large tail adorned with stripes curling into view behind them.
They hesitated before speaking again, their voice soft against the hallway's ambience.
"177, right?"
She shrugged and lifted up a claw, near drooling from hunger at the sight of his fur, "Who cares?"
"I do."
"Okay, fine. I'm 177 then, whatever that means." She huffed, "Who're you?"
"I'm 033." He said, hands still up, "I work here. Or...I live here, It's complicated…"
She narrowed her eyes at him, studying his face for...something. She couldn't describe what she was looking for. Maybe it was ulterior motives. Or mockery. Or both.
Maybe neither.
"What do you want, 033?" She asked, voice steely in the dim lighting, "I have hair to eat and I'm hungry, so make it quick. Or, I take yours."
At this, 033 extended a hand towards her. She smirked at it before staring up at him, "You're kidding."
"No. You can have it. I've got clothes in my room. Just..." They quietly surveyed the hallways before looking back to her, their gaze tired, "I'm...I'm going to have to clean all of this up. If I give you this, then...can you promise you're gonna come with me? I'll make you something if you're hungry."
"Is it hair?"
"I can see if we have anything similar."
"So it's not."
They sighed, letting their hand fall to their side, "Look, I can give you my fur, but if I do, you've gotta come with me. Jumba sounds angry."
"Jumba?"
"The person who made us. Really big, long black...hair...oh." 033 cast another glance down the hallway, "177...did you…?"
"Eat it? Why not? It was the first thing I saw when I woke up."
033's antenna drooped, "177...please come with me."
"Fine. But I get the fur. Deal?"
He held out his hand again, fixing her with a shy smile, "Of course."
033's hand felt smooth against her long fur as he led her down the hallway, a spare lab coat trailing behind him. The ends of a ribbon dangling from the coat indicated an apron, and the loose shirt he'd put on seemed baggy. She could tell it exposed his shoulders from the way he kept adjusting the coat collar, and she flushed, glancing down at the floor in embarrassment. The urge to eat hair was ever present, but the only fur remaining was on 033's waist, and she...didn't think she should go there.
She felt her stomach growl and tightened her grip on his hand, feeling his eyes on her as he slowed his pace. Looking up revealed a soft smile, antenna pricked upwards as 033 nodded towards a room at the far end of the hallway, "We're almost there 177, don't worry."
177 felt her cheeks burn even further, "Oh...it's...it's not just that."
His gaze softened, "...If it helps, we all do similar when we're first made. I tried to bash my way out of my chamber when I was created."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I didn't do this much, but I can see why you would." He tugged at the lab coat with his free hand, watching 177's face light up, "But...I don't think you should just eat hair, you know? Even though it's your function."
"Then...what should I eat?" She asked, confused, "Hair just seems like the best option."
"But it's not the only one."
They finished their journey in silence, 033 gesturing to a counter lined with chairs, "Wait here, okay? I'll get you something."
She nodded, and he opened a case, taking out several things; a purple-spotted steak, some fruits, a packet of dried meat…
033 placed the first item in the microwave before taking the other two to the counter, fingers peeling the skin off the fruits. 177 watched him in interest; he worked so meticulously she almost didn't realize this was meant for her, iridescent cerulean flesh glistening in the room's light as he handed it to her.
She took the fruit in her claws before glancing up at him. 033 was already starting on the other-this one slightly paler than the one she was holding now. 177 simply continued to watch him work. He was so slow in comparison to her...her rampage through the lab-that was what this was according to him...it'd been so quick in contrast…
She felt eyes on her and started, realizing he'd finished with the second fruit and was watching her. "Aren't you gonna try it or…"
"Oh-oh-yeah! I was just…" 177 exclaimed, "It was just...you're really careful 033. It's kinda funny."
He smiled, "Well, I have to be. I'm a lab assistant, so I've got to be thorough."
177 returned the smile before placing the fruit in her mouth, biting down on it as 033 got the steak out of the microwave. It...didn't taste like Jumba's hair. Or 033's fur. It was…
It wasn't hair.
033 placed the plate on the counter and took something from a drawer off to the side, cutting off chunks of the steak before handing it to her. She felt her teeth gnaw at the inside of her cheeks, wondering if this would taste like hair, or the fruit she'd just eaten…
"Are you okay?" 033's voice cut into her thoughts, and 177 looked up to see him partially sunk into his shirt and coat, watching her with a concerned expression, "Or is this too much?"
She shook her head, "It's not-it's just...this is only the second thing I've eaten. What are those called anyways?"
"Eeh," 033 shrugged, "they've got a lot of names, here though, they're called novas. The ones I gave you are called Carinae."
"They're all named after stars." He finished, "Those little points of light outside."
177's gaze followed 033's to the window, seeing a multitude of tiny pinpricks suspended in the void.
"What're stars?"
He stared at them in silence for a moment, his eyes showed something, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was...or what it meant.
"They're...a lot of things. There's a straightforward explanation for them, but there's also a lot of fantastical ones. I kind of like the latter more." He said, almost seeming to reach out to them, "They support us and they do live, in their own way. It's not like us, but still."
177 felt the fur on the back of her neck rise at 033's words. She was already small, but the explanation only made her feel smaller. She took the last nova from 033's hand and popped it into her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut at the taste.
She decided this tasted like really fine fur. Something that was just starting to grow back.
033 watched her in interest, his reddish eyes following her deep blue as 177 started on the steak. She decided it tasted similar to 033's fur.
"So…" She said, watching the bone of the steak roll around on the plate, "What now?"
"Well," He gazed out into the hallway, "I'll have to fix your claw marks and put everything back in place, and then I'm gonna go to bed. I was just done for the day when you came running through."
"Oh." 177 tapped her claws on the counter, biting her lip; she was full, something the hair she'd eaten prior hadn't done for her. It was a strange feeling, even more so since it diminished her drive to eat it. Right now, the only things she could think about were her fur-puffed out against the cold, the bone and peels on the plate, and how quiet 033 was.
She couldn't help but feel...a little bad, now that her mind was clear.
"Do you...want me to help you, or…?"
He furrowed his brow at her in confusion before shaking his head, "It's fine 177-I know what to do. You should probably pick out a room for the night."
177 watched him, raising her eyebrows as he got down from the counter, plate in hands. He hadn't said anything, but he looked cold. In fact, she thought she saw him shiver for a second as he tipped the food remains into the trash.
"I...I'd like to help you, 033." She said, "It's my mess after all, I don't see why you should have to clean it up."
He glanced back over to her in surprise, antenna raising, "Are you sure 177? You were just made. You should rest."
"Probably, but…" She cast a glance towards the door, "I'm not sure I should be alone."
"Oh." He followed her gaze as he washed the plate in the sink, "Okay…"
033 let 177 lead him to his room; he'd protested, but something about the atmosphere of the lab put 177 on edge. As much as she wanted to tell herself she just needed some protection, she was interested in finding out more from 033. Her hunger for hair had, for the moment, been replaced by one for information.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
033 was the one to place his hand on the scanner next to the door, the handle clicking as he pushed it in. The room inside was bare and unassuming, a single bed sitting next to a desk. About the messiest thing in the whole room was a mug on said desk, filled with pens and multicolored notepads.
033 stepped over to a closet next to his bed, taking out another oversized shirt. She turned around to give him privacy as she closed the door, crossing her arms as he got the new shirt over his head.
An "Alright" signaled she could face him, and she giggled at seeing him in the shirt; a faded logo was strewn across the front, an alien skull emblazoned with vines and flowers practically screaming at her from across the room. She hadn't taken him to wear something like this, given what she'd seen of him so far.
He tilted his head and snorted at seeing her reaction, "I get it-it used to be Jumba's, but 001 shrunk it for me when he didn't want it anymore. It's pretty warm, so…" He threw his arms out to the sides, letting the sleeves dangle in the overhead light, "I'm a little cold-no offense."
"None taken." 177 said, still grinning at the sight, "I guess this is day one then, huh?"
"For you it is. Wait here-I'll set up your bed-"
"But there's already one."
He gazed at her, face turning a pinkish-red, "But...that's mine."
"So?"
"177…" 033 crossed his arms, "I'm way earlier than you."
"And...this means…"
"I just think you should sleep separately."
"You think it's weird because I'm new then. Got it."
"Don't you?"
"No. Why do you think it's weird?"
He sighed and 177 walked forward, taking his hand in hers. His claws were short and a dark gray-almost black in between her light gold fur.
"Look, I'll be fine 033. If you really want me to, I'll sleep in something you set up. I just...don't want to be alone. And I'm cold as well. Just...so you know."
He looked to her, his eyes lingering on their hands, "I...well, okay 177."
"Thanks 033."
Jumba's shirt felt a little rough on 177's claws, but against her fur, it was soft. She wondered what it was made of.
033 was fast asleep next to her; even though he'd let her sleep in his bed, he was still angled slightly off to the side, hands resting on his chest and his head turned fully away from her. 177 watched him in the darkness-the only light in the room coming from the nebula he'd pointed out to her before bed.
She thought to herself, staring up at the ceiling of 033's room. According to him, both of them were genetic experiments, both made for specific purposes. Hers must be to eat hair, and his was to maintain their creator's lab and house.
They were different. Very different. She wasn't sure if that was on purpose, but perhaps, it was.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by something. Something big-storming down the hallway and ranting to themselves about…
Hair.
Jumba. It must be. There was no other way…
She instinctively grabbed onto 033's wrist and pulled it towards her, feeling it clench as he woke up. Both of them remained deathly silent as Jumba's voice faded down the hall, 177's heart pounding in her chest. The thought occurred that this probably wasn't supposed to happen to her, since 033 wasn't at all moved by Jumba's ranting.
They waited for several minutes after the voice faded before 177 felt 033's wrist leave her hand. He shifted, turning over and placing an arm around her as though trying to shield her from any potential return. Several more passed before he spoke, his voice a low whisper in the darkness.
"I've never heard that from him before."
"Is it normal?"
"No."
"...Can I even come out or…"
"I'll stay with you, okay 177? He won't do anything to you; I promise."
"Okay." She whispered, pushing her head into his chest. His shirt had a smell to it; it was sharp, but she couldn't describe it beyond that.
She'd have to ask him what caused it sometime around…
He quickly drifted back off to sleep, 177 feeling his arm loosen across her shoulder. She edged closer to him, placing a hand on his wrist. His fur was already growing back, fuzz starting to rise from the skin. She adjusted the blanket over the both of them as she gazed back up at the ceiling, going back over the five memories she'd gained from this first day of existence.
She wondered if 033 had been alone when he was made, or if he'd been surrounded by the very experiments she'd tried to attack. Was there anyone else besides her? Who'd caused damage to the lab like she had? She'd done nothing wrong according to 033, but she had still eaten both his and their creator's hair and ran her claws against the metal walls of the lab. 033 must've spent an hour smoothing over the gouges she'd left…
177 tilted her head into 033's chest; she could hear him snoring through the shirt. Made sense-he didn't have a proper nose.
She closed her eyes against it and sighed. This was...definitely a first day, that was for sure…
Either way, she was at least happy to have met him.