Learning that there would be people willing to fund this sort of thing probably isn't on the list of things either of them would really want to know. How anyone would do all this with a clear conscience was beyond Iggy. "Don't know what sleep would do to help..." But upon hearing Jack's breathing turn steady and soft, Iggy rolled over - careful of his wings - and curled up once more. It took a long time for him to finally shut his eyes and fall asleep. It's odd to think that a new place, even one just as horrible, would give him difficulty sleeping. He blamed it on the different smells, and sounds.
The hours crept by, and without a clock in sight or sun position to tell them the time.. nothing seemed like night or day. Just mindless sleep. The two captive boys, equal in age, stature, and sarcasm enjoyed rest when they could. Or, at least Jack did. Iggy was not a concern as the elemental boy was resting a now broken leg.
He was awakened by a loud banging to the door, shouting to be up and ready. Ready for what? As his eyes flickered open, lazily trying to focus on his surroundings, he dared not move. Already he could feel how stiff his muscles had gone during the long hours on a concrete ledge. Not to mention the soreness caused by the tests conducted on him prior. The boy was determined not to move yet. Not to disturb his settled leg. Instead, he called over to the other trapped soul that shared the cell. "Iggy, you still alive?"
Iggy's sleep was restless, and not as fulfulling as perhaps he hoped it might be. The first time he awoke, his hands reached out, searching for the slits in his cage. Something familiar to hold on to. His probing fingers came to instead a solid wall. It was startling, causing Iggy to furrow his brow and remember just where where he was, the heavy weight uncomfortable weight against his wings. It's easy to forget when all you see is darkness. When he awoke for the last time in the series of pointless half hour attempts at rest, Iggy remained umoving, a hand beneath his head providing a sort of cushion. The banging on the door... that was startling, but even the shouting could not immediately move the avian hybrid. They're not coming in yet, it seemed. There's no reason why he should jump up and off the ledge. It was Jack's voice that finally provoked a response from Iggy. "Yeah... How's your leg?"
"Still in two pieces." Jack groaned, gripping at the jagged surface as he pulled himself up into a technically upright position. The hand that wasn't tasked with holding up his weight then was carded through his locks. He huffed lightly as he fingers slipped through the shortened hair. It must have been quite the unruly hair cut. Thank goodness his companion was blind. "Think we can call in sick instead of entertaining them today?" The boy asked, humored as always but still clinging to a spark of hope.
"Oh Jack... do you really wanna rob the world of it's scientific breakthroughs?" Iggy replied in sarcasm, rolling over, again being careful or his wings and as not to fall right off the ledge. "Apparently, we're doing amazing things for humanity here." It seemed that with the turn of a new day (or Iggy assumed it was a new day), Jack's found some for of amusement again. Good. Iggy liked that. It was easier to find his own strong hold of inner strength to get through whatever comes next when he can speak at ease with another, even if it is tinged with bitterness.
"If this is helping humanity, those must be some messed up humans. Then again, I've never really met a human being. Only soulless doctors and scientists. ...must be the profession." In a way, Jack relaxed to. After their little spurt yesterday, the slightly older boy had found in himself fear that Iggy really did only care about surviving. I mean, who wouldn't? But even in the day they had been present together, Jack had found himself a quick friend. With all the yelling, he had been slightly worried that single connection he had down in the dark.. was severed.
"I guess a field trip outside isn't really fitting in the schedule." There's a brief pause, as if Iggy is trying to determine whether or not to continue on. "There were a few like me... From where I was from." It seemed so distant already. What were the other hybrids doing? What were they forced to endure at this very moment? The two his age, the few younger. Of course, there were other mutations, primarily the Erasers, but it's easier to try and not think about them. "Am I your first roommate?" Iggy asked in a sudden fit of curiosity.
That was one thing that Iggy had over Jack. He wasn't alone. He knew there were others like him. Others that he could consider himself close to. But, as far as the elemental knew, no other attempts to create such a being such as himself had survived the process. Instead, it was only he. Standing alone among the organization's agents that tempted to morph his mind. "Yeah. You're the first person they've ever actually let me talk to. Let alone share a room with." While he was cautious to admit it, the boy was sincerely glad to have Iggy with him. There were grander fates of course, but to have a spacious room and another person to converse with—it was a blessing. The only thing he missed from before was a bed, and well, a usable leg.
Speaking of which, swinging both limbs over the edge, Jack decided it see how difficult it was to walk today. Odds are that he wouldn't get the luxury of sulking around all day. He eased himself lower until his toes touched the floor beneath. "Here goes nothing.." He mumbled before applying more weight and sliding off onto his heels. Despite his best efforts, a pained moan sounded as he was forced to shift onto his other leg for support. "I hate them! I hate them!" Jack cursed, hopping around until he could grab to the ledge for support.
Gotta give thanks for the little things in a life like this. Easier said than done of course. Iggy solemnly followed that idea. Upon hearing the rustle of Jack's clothing, he sat up, maybe a bit faster than was completely necessary. "Hey, make sure you don't go all at once." He warned, as if Jack might jump right to his feet, regardless of the injury. The next thing Iggy heard was a hurt filled sound from the other, and he avoided an unhelpful "Told you so", and instead, just listened to Jack's frustrated shouts. Who could possibly blame the teen for snapping like that? When Jack quiets down again, Iggy states in a quiet voice that doesn't seem that quite in the almost empty room, "Have to agree with you there... These are BAD people." Obvious understatement. Iggy's not sure how much more time they have before they're taken from here. Maybe they won't be. Maybe today will be a long day of just sitting around or wandering the containment room.
He's never done it before, trying to take someone's mind off something, but he'll give it a go. "What do you look like?" Iggy gestured to his eyes. "Can't see, so go ahead and describe yourself to me. I'm dying of curiosity over here." Iggy doesn't really care for physical appearances, but hey, it's a way better topic than their current situation.
His eyes squeezed shut as pain rocketed up from his leg. Oh, even though his shouts died down verbally, he was still repeating it over and over mentally. If he was going to attack anyone, he wished that his target was those petty agents who thrust them into the courses. He would gladly have taken a handful of them on! However, his heated attitude died some when Iggy was grateful enough to change the topic. Jack took a deep breath, leaning himself up against the makeshift seat before looking eyes with the blank blue ones of his partner.
"Well, umm..." He began looking himself over and trying to think of ways to describe his appearance. "About the same height as you. White hair.. now unbelievably short due to those tests yesterday. Uhh.. Blue eyes. My skin is a lot paler than yours. T-shirt.. shorts. Nothing that really fits me, of course." He then grew quiet, waiting to see what reaction that would give him from Iggy.
"White hair?" He repeated, smirking just a tiny bit. There was a joke or two he could make but passed up on it for now and nods seriously in regards to the rest of what's said. And oh, he learned he's pale today, Jack is paler. "You sound like winter." Iggy imagined blues and whites when it came to winter. He's not really sure why, since it's not like the scientists he grew up with sat the hybrids down and explained the seasons to them. "What color are your clothes?" Iggy pressed on for more information. He could create a vague sort of picture if Jack in his head. At least that helped Iggy focus on something else too.
There was definitely a few jokes and puns to be said about an ice elemental who fit the physical appearance of the coldest season. Yet, Jack was glad he was spared the humor this time, as his 'caretakers' had already played up those comments passed their worth. His face scrunches at the mention of winter, though. He had never actually seen the white wonderland before, and knew even less of how he pertained to it. But, he shrugged it off. Maybe some day he would be taught more. Heck, he'd actually enjoy that type of schooling. "Imagine a blue that's almost white. Pretty ugly color if I do say so myself."
Iggy stuck his tongue out for a moment in distaste. "Well, we can't all be gifted in the art of fashion I guess." Not that what the School had the avian hybrid dressed in was much better. And ya know what, Iggy could sure go for a hair cut. They can bond over the fact that they're both fashionably stunted. And that would mean something if they weren't stuck in here. "What color is this room?" Iggy asked then, patting the ledge he sat on. "Ugly color too?"
"Dull gray. Ugly as ugly comes." Jack huffed, once again trying to place weight on his broken leg. This time his breathing staggered, but no cries of pain. He tries stepping out further into the room, towards Iggy. Hey, not too bad. It was definitely going to be a while before he could run any marathons or anything. "I can walk... sorta." He exclaimed, because he figured Iggy probably wouldn't know of his efforts.
"Sort of hobbling there, but yeah, I guess it qualifies as walking." If they're taken out of the room again, Iggy would be lying if he said he wasn't worried about Jack's capabilities now that he's working with a busted leg. If they're set to fight against each other again... Iggy stared without seeing at Jack's attempts at getting use to the break.
"At this point, I'm glad I can do even that." While it feels like he's dragging a log across the floor, Jack continues to shuffle around the space. He would need to build up his strength for things to come. Though.. that doesn't last long as the doors are opened and SHIELD's goonies enter. "...not now." Jack cringed. His heart rate quickened. He was barely stable, and already they were brashly grabbing hold of his arms and locking them together with the same cuff-like metal.
At least Jack has a very distinctive set of footsteps now. Iggy just continues to listen to the other boy, playing with the hem of his shirt absentmindedly. The moment the doors are opened however, Iggy is sitting straight up, counting the number of people who enter into their room, pale eyes flickering back and forth. Were they truly expecting to test Jack in such condition? Iggy felt a bit sick with empathy at the idea of performing the tests, ANY tests, with an injury like a broken leg. SHIELD must have learned from last time concerning the hybrid though, as there are still two men who come to approach Iggy, despite the ability to use his wings temporarily disabled. Iggy slides off the ledge he had been sitting on, and though he had been about to offer his hands, come without trouble, he's still grabbed by one man intent on holding him steady while his wrists are cuffed, like Jack's. The two men do not release Iggy as the move from the room to the hall is made.
As they were drug out, into another day's worth of walking through the bland halls, Jack radiated with anger. Oh, steam must have been rolling out of his ears as he was ushered onward. There came the uneven fall of footsteps, and every time the teen dared slow, he was shoved hard in the back. A high pitched noise was made as the weight fell in the wrong direction. These people were evil, more needing to be avoided than poison, and with every bit of pain-it morphed within Jack...to a quiet rage.
Jack's anger is almost enough for Iggy to pick up on as he's led a foot or so behind the elemental. Back at the School, the hybrids were always experimented on, and tested, seperately. He never had the misfortune of listening to someone in pain, other than himself. The six of them, back in their cages, they were pretty good at keeping their injuries to themselves. Which was both incredibly sad, and somewhat impressive, given that the youngest of them was six. Although they weren't really given the opprotunity to speak often, and maybe they didn't really know each other that well because of that - but they were all in the same situation. Iggy still missed them. And though he lost himself momentarily in thought, as he returned, he gave up on tracking their path again. One thing was for certain, they weren't being led to the same place as yesterday. Iggy couldn't decide if that was better or worse.
Jack had also picked up on the fact that a different room must be their destination. But, the thought didn't linger long as it was impossible to think with all the discomfort of his wounds. At one point, he completely stopped, causing both his escort as well as Iggy's to pile up in the hall. "Get moving!" One of them growled, and did the unthinkable. A strong blow was given to Jack's injured leg with their foot. Oh, it was too much. Tears sprung anew, and it took all his mental stamina to hold back another series of sobs. But, with that motivation, he hobbled along at a faster pace. He just wanted to get there, and get it over with. Then he could go back to curling up in their cell. He was disgusted with himself for actually longing for such imprisonment.
The moment they stopped moving, Iggy tensed up. They weren't there yet, wherever it was they were headed. They were still in the hall, judging by the echoes. So why did they stop? A whitecoat's command reaffirmed this idea, and Iggy winced at the sound of the kick. Jack didn't make a noise, but Iggy knew that must have been incredibly jarring. How the other boy even managed to keep going was quite the feat. If they don't find themselves too injured to speak, not DEAD, then Iggy will ask about Jack's leg later. Or maybe he'd rather the hybrid ignore it...
The floor changed to something cooler, and Iggy could sense that they've entered into a new room. It was a large gym like arena, not unlike where they had been brought just the day before, with a window set high in the wall. In this room, there is no fake scenery, fake grass and fake trees. Instead, there's a white wall, taller than both Jack and Iggy by at least a foot, with two openings. One on the left, and one on the right. The boys are seperated then. Jack taken to one side, and Iggy the other. Not that Iggy can see it, but just beyond the opening in the white wall, lay a hall, with various openings going off every which way. A maze. A maze with metal coils set into the floor, and they served a purpose. A motivation, just in case. What were the subjects thinking skills under pressure? They're about to find out.