so this belongs to the same AU as Operation Sinkhole-Locust and humans never went to war, so they're more or less integrated. i like to imagine how the Locust would deal with different surface things and decided Skorge is probably the least adjusted/has the most difficult time. anyone who dresses the way he does is not someone who works well in society.

The waiting room was an acceptable level of crowded. All the people pushed themselves to the far side when the Locust walked in, so they had the wall nearest the check-in counter to themselves.

Skorge was feeling the air ahead of him with one hand, while the other held RAAM's arm. "I smell antiseptic," he shouted. "Are we at the butcher's?"

Myrrah began checking in at the counter. "That is a name you use to refer to this place."

"OH BOY!"

RAAM guided Skorge to a seat and pushed on him to tell him to sit. As long as that blindfold stayed on, he was more or less obedient.

"I am going to get an entire cow," he proclaimed.

The terrified desk clerk accepted the clipboard and pointed to the open door leading to the exam rooms. "The doctor wants you back right now. Room two." She spoke in hushed tones, wary of superior Kantus hearing.

Myrrah nodded and turned to the men. "Rise, Skorge. We are going to take a short walk."

"This is the most convoluted surprise I have ever taken part in," Skorge said, standing and looping his arm through RAAM's. He looked like a twig next to a tree trunk.

He wore the minimum amount of clothing that humans deemed appropriate, which was one of the reasons why he received looks on his way to the door. His skimpy outfit would reduce his chances of escape in the final step of the process, because RAAM would not have to wrestle him out of his pants this time. Skorge didn't have much upper body strength, but he could be slippery and quick.

Myrrah led them down two turns and into Exam Room Two. RAAM ushered Skorge in, and then worked himself through. She actually heard him utter "fuck" when he bashed his head against the frame. With him in the room, it felt like a queerly-decorated closet more than anything.

He tested the exam bed, then sat on it. He reached out one hand to Skorge, who was still standing, but didn't touch him just yet.

"Can I use the cleaver today?" Skorge asked. "I love butcher's cleavers." He made a chopping motion with his hand.

"No," Myrrah sighed. "You cannot." She pulled the blindfold from his eyes.

He blinked, dazzled, but soon enough became aware of the situation. She first saw confusion, then hurt, then betrayal. "We...we're not at the pricking place, are we?"

"I have told you, Skorge, it's called a doctor's office."

Skorge grabbed his bald head and screamed. RAAM looped an arm around his waist and hauled him onto the exam bed before he could run.

The next five minutes were a raucous mixture of wailing from Skorge, and grunting and scuffling from RAAM. He ended up laying across RAAM's lap, his head and torso trapped under one hard-as-concrete arm, the Drone's other hand tryied to keep his legs immobile.

A well-placed kick from him could bust through these walls like they were wet paper, or break a human's spinal column. As much as Myrrah didn't care about humans, she didn't want a diplomatic situation today.

At least not until after he gets his damn boosters, she thought.

"I'm not getting a shot," Skorge warbled. "I'm not getting a shot! Right? Right? This is just a check-up!" His pitch kept rising until he sounded like a dolphin attempting speech. He clawed futilely at RAAM's arm and wheeled his calves around in search of something to kick off of. If he had leverage, he could topple even RAAM with those legs.

Myrrah resisted the urge to glance at her watch. This room was starting to swelter. Was the aide avoiding them?

"I can't believe this!" Skorge roared. "After all I've done for you! And you do this to me?"

"It's just a booster, Skorge," Myrrah snapped, watching the door as thought she could will the human to move faster. If they were a Locust, that would have worked.

She tried to imagine another Locust giving Skorge his shots. Oh god. They were all terrified of needles back at the palace.

"I-I'll give you my allowance for the next three weeks, if you let me go," Skorge said.

It's my money anyway, Myrrah thought.

"I won't scream at midnight anymore! Even if there are owls!"

Myrrah scowled. It had probably been about six minutes now, but it felt like she'd been here half an hour.

"What did I do wrong?" When she looked again, he had stopped squirming and now only trembled. "My queen, what has made you turn against me like this? Have the gods forsaken me?"

Finally, the knob twisted and the door moved inward. Myrrah almost smiled, but suppressed the reflex. The woman who stepped through was small and young, probably new to the complex. When she saw RAAM her eyes widened and she reared her head back; she was definitely new, but seemed resilient enough.

"Well," the aide began, placing her tray of supplies on the counter, "how are we today?"

"Irritated," Myrrah said, then hastily added, "but Skorge will be fine once it is all over. I am taking him to the meat farm. He can pick out his own cow. Isn't that right, Skorge?"

The Kantus lay limp in RAAM's arms. He shut his eyes. "Just get it over with," he whispered. His whisper was everyone else's regular speaking volume.

The nurse nodded and brought over the tray. She balanced it on the sliver of bed that wasn't occupied with Locust, and took out the cotton swab. Skorge watched her and waited until the cotton was half a foot from his leg, then he began his screaming and struggling anew.

RAAM wasn't paying as much attention as he should have. Skorge managed to spring off his lap, and was in midair when RAAM caught him and wrangled him back into a prone position. Myrrah could feel his shrieking in her chest.

The aide was against the wall, mouth gaping, aghast.

"Just give him the shot." Myrrah had to yell to be heard over Skorge's bone-shivering scream.

"The area hasn't been disinfected," the aide shouted back.
"It'll be fine! Just do it!" Locust didn't get human infections.

The nurse walked back over, picked up the needle from the tray, and stood over Skorge. His bare thigh offered plenty of real estate, but she couldn't seem to pick a suitable spot. His foot twitched a few inches closer to her chest and she flinched like she'd been hit.

"Stop hesitating and stick it in!"

As soon as Myrrah said it, she saw RAAM's face twitch. Skorge's wails turned into one long, dramatic, shuddering inhale while the shot was administered. RAAM's single eye glared down at the human and he looked ready to take advantage of the rare quiet.

"Don't you dare-" Myrrah started.

"She tells me that every time."

this is the most elaborate "that's what she said" joke i've ever made