Chapter 6: Blood stains.

"Oh man, what happened to you!?" It was some sight for, the just waking, 017, 018 was only sitting on 'his' cot not doing anything but 'he' was covered in blood, dried blood.

"Testing yesterday."

"Testing what, how much you can bleed?" 017's statement wasn't unexpected, 018 was covered from head to toe, even 'his' hat was bloody.

"Testing bullet proof hide."

"Not very bullet proof, huh, amazing you survived... oh sorry." 017 caught herself too late but 018 didn't seem to care.

"I'm sorry, I got your hat bloody." 018 motioned to the, once green, ball cap. "That's your hat, remember, I said you could have it." 017 wondered why he didn't understand that.

"So you're done testing?"

018 nodded.

"Oh not that again, come on talk to me." 017 was fed up with 018's usual silence.

"About what?"

"Tell me how you got bloody, in detail. How is zero-zero-three doing? How did your tests turn out? You've got to have something to talk about."

"Jumba miscalculated, I got hurt. Last I saw, he was ok. Success to most, failure to some. ...I saw zero-one-nine."

"Ugh, wait, zero-one-nine that's something! What's he like, is he a he, what does he do?" 017 was interested simply because she had nothing to talk about, and she was about sick of listening to the same three CDs.

"Disabled. Seemingly. I don't know."

"Disabled? How, what does that mean?" 017 had never heard an experiment described like that before, if you could call that a description.

"Zero-one-nine is cross-eyed by some mistake."

"Well?" 017 pressed for more, 018 just gave her 'his' usual blank stare. "You don't have anything else to talk about?"

018 continued to stare.

"AH, that's it, I ain't gonna just sit around here all day." 017 got up, grabbed a new hat, and walked to the door. "You want to come with?" 018 just sat there.

"..."

"Suit yourself, but I gotta get out today." 017 left.

018 sat alone now as 017 made her way down the hall, 018 could easily see with X-ray eyes. "There's nothing out there anyway, but now..." 018 let lose his tail and antenna. "I can try to get use to this."

'He' had plenty of time to do so as 'he' sat, stood, and paced, mostly waiting for 017 to come back. So 'he' could try this with someone watching, if 'he' couldn't do that then it was all just a waste.

But 017 wasn't coming back so fast. It was already dinner time but 018 didn't know that, 'he' just knew 'he' was hungry.

Nearly an hour later 017 was finally coming back, but 018 didn't notice 'he' was zoned out lying on 'his' cot.

"Hey, why didn't you come eat?" 017 walked in. 018 jumped up, almost stopped but couldn't help it, 'he' snapped 'his' tail and antenna back in.

"Is dinner ready?" 018 asked. "Done and eaten." 017 answered.

"..." 018 fell back on 'his' cot. "Uh, your's is still in there. I would go sit with you but I have to get over to the showers. You should learn these times, don't you have an internal clock?"

018 got up, shook 'his' head, and turned to leave. "Oh... that's inconvenient, what was Jumba thinking." 018 was soon at the door but 017 hadn't moved.

"Excuse me." 017 was snapped form her thoughts. "Wait, don't you want to hear what I've been doing?"

018 shook 'his' head. "Oh..." 017 stepped out of the way, into the hall. 018 started toward the cafeteria. "So much for this..." 018 didn't hear that, all 'he' had on 'his' mind was food.

The cafeteria, much like the halls, was empty. There where two food trays left, 018 figured 003 hadn't eaten yet. "Should I wait? What if it's someone else's? What if he doesn't come?" 018 stood pondering all this for a while, all the while 'his' stomach whined for food.

It wasn't long though, before 003 showed up. "Hey, zero-one-eight." 003 called out as he entered the room. 018 was caught by surprise again, although this time he wasn't exposed or embarrassed, 'he' turned and waved.

003 was over in no time. "Have you been waiting for me?"

"A little bit, yes." 018 replied, stomach whining audibly.

"Well don't starve yourself, remember the promise?" 003 kind of joked but was also concerned. "That would take a long time." 003 couldn't tell if 018 was joking or not, he shrugged it off. "Come on, let's eat."

"So how was your first 'day off'?" 003 asked.

"Good."

"...Like how, what made it good?" 003 pressed.

"For one, I didn't get shot today."

"Hey, you do have a sense of humor! Need to work on the delivery though." 003 smiled. "What all did you do?"

"I sat, I tried too be... natural... but when zero-one-seven came back I couldn't, I hid them again."

"Hid what?" 003 felt like he missed something.

"My tail and antenna. I am trying to not be ashamed, like you said."

"Well, that doesn't mean you should sit around nude all day. I mean its fine to not be ashamed and its ok if someone sees you like that, especially for you, but that doesn't mean you need to be nude, and it's fine if you're only comfortable around certain people too." 003 paused, he was having a hard time putting it to words.

"..." 018 went back to eating.

"So you didn't clean your fur yet... took me awhile too get that blood out. You should have seen zero-one-zero he was having a field day cleaning it all up, off the floor that is, I wouldn't trust him to clean me." 003 recalled the scene.

"Sorry."

"What's wrong, this time?"

"I got you bloody."

"That wasn't your fault at all, and washing it out wasn't a big deal for me, although it looks like you might need some help... come on you need a bath." 003 didn't mean for that to sound dirty but couldn't help to laugh at the thought of him bathing 018. 018 didn't share the sentiment but as soon as 'he' finished eating they were on they're way to the showers.

At the showers.

"Hold on we're gonna need this..." 003 went over to the towel closet and fished out a soft brush. "Alright... I hope the water is warm."

It feels strange and 'he' is so shy... I can only imagine what 'he' is feeling. 003 started on 018's back, brushing lightly with no water wasn't getting the blood out but it did straighten out the fur somewhat, it was all; matted, sticky, and stained, this would be even harder then he thought but it was slowly getting there.

"Raise your arm." 018 did so as 003 moved to a side, straightening the fur, and on and under the arm. Then the other side. "Kneel down a little, or sit." 018 complied again by sitting, 003 took 018's hat off. "You'll have to get this washed sometime." He tossed it away, toward the entrance, and began stroking 018's head fur.

Now the hard part... "You need to lie down... on your back." 018 did so without hesitation, 003 knelt beside 'him' and did hesitate. "Should I... do you want to do this part." 003 blushed forgetting 018 isn't male, 018 shook 'his' head. So 003 began at the top, slowly going down the stomach, spent a while longer there then finally moved down, to the most sensitive area, or so he thought...

He's actually letting me brush him there? 003's face was so red it looked as if he'd pass out soon. "Will you be ok?" 018, seeing the severe blood rush with thermal vision, was concerned. 003 froze as if he were just caught by someone, then realized it was 018's voice. The momentary pause helped to clam him a little "Yeah... your... Sorry." 003 moved the brush onto 018's legs and was done in no time.

018 stood up, 003 was still gathering himself and before he knew what was happening 018 took the brush and started on 003's back. "Hey what!" 018 stopped at his protest, "You... don't have to do that..." 003 nearly whispered. "Sorry." 018 held the brush out for 003 to take, 003 sighed, "No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I just wasn't expecting that... you can, if you want." 003 felt even more embarrassed, ashamed, and a little guilty for liking it.

This was a the first time he'd been groomed by someone else, it felt completely different than brushing himself; each stroke was random, unpredictable, and lovingly tender. But it was over too soon, as 018 moved to his head, he was ticklish around the ears, small squeaks and giggles coming out with every brush stroke. That too was over soon as 018 now moved to his side, without a word 003 raised his arm, and 018 continued just like 003 had done for 'him' and that meant...

003 got more and more nervous as 018 finished his arms. Should I let him, 'he' is not male. 003 told himself, with a few seconds delay he laid down, "OK" he said to affirm himself. 018 started as gently as before; brushing 003's chest, 'he' could again see 003's face flush as 'he' went down to his stomach but then the blood rush set off in a different direction...

003 couldn't believe the feeling as 018 brushed over his crotch, exhilarated and horribly ashamed at the same time, it felt like he was using 018. Does 018 know what this is doing to me? 018 doesn't have these feelings does 'he'? 'He' doesn't have these 'parts' so how would 'he'... unfortunately for him 018 was done long before he wanted 'him' to be, he even laid on the floor a minute longer, hoping 018 would start again.

"That was nice... thanks." 003 got up, "But maybe laying on the floor isn't such a good idea." he pointed to his back. "It's all messed up again isn't it? Oh well, we need to shower and get that blood out anyway." 003 held his hand out for the brush, 018 gave it to him, and he took it back to the towel closet and got out a different, more ridged, plastic brush. "Alright, heh heh, lather up!" 003 grinned oddly.

The brushing was anything but gentle this time, hair pulled, scolding hot water, scrubbing up and down on the same spot over and over, but ever so slowly the blood was coming out.

Nearly two and a half hours after they entered 018 was finally clean, of the blood anyway. "Well, now we can get to the regular showering." The water was ice cold, 003 threw his arms up in protest but was otherwise silent. Then he noticed, 018 had 'his' antenna and tail out, he remained silent for now.

When they were toweling off, 003 spoke up. "So, it doesn't seem too hard."

"What?" 018 did understand.

003 motioned to 018's tail, it darted back behind 'his' body. "I hadn't even noticed."

"Well that's one way of getting use to it." 003 laughed. "It does have to be 'out of mind' or you'll never be comfortable about it."

Although 'he' did retract it, for the sake of wearing the towel, picked up his hat on the way out. "Hey, I can get that cleaned for you." 003 offered. "You'll have it back by morning."

"Thanks." 018 handed it over.

Soon enough they were back at 018's room. "Goodnight."

"Yeah, hey don't be a stranger, you know, around the lab." 003 gave him a serious look, "I may be busy most of the time, but you shouldn't ignore the others. I know that 017 invited you to go with her yesterday but you didn't and all you did was sit alone all day... it may not be easy but it's always better." 003 told him. "Well, goodnight."

Author's note: 003 doesn't sleep much huh?