[SIDESTORY] Morbit Oneshots (18+)

[skinstealer]

B-144- 2017
Ringor Mortis, Punch Clock Animal/Universal Constants (Takes place after Maybequest)
CW: Child abuse
Maes meets B-144, another resident at the lab.

---

Your mother’s claws are digging into your shoulder as you’re lead down the hallway- it smells different here, and even the doors, identical to the ones in the wings you know, feel unfamiliar. It’s quieter here, and you can’t tell if you like that more or less than the racket in your siblings’ halls. You don’t think there’s any here, and you’re too afraid to ask. Your mother has that gleam in her eye again, the kind she got when she was up to something that end with at least one of your siblings in tears, at best. 

Considering she singled you out today, your chances of avoiding that are zero.

“Maes,” she says in her jingling voice, and the sound of glee there makes you very uneasy. “Do you know what today is?”

“Yes, mother.”

“And what would that be?”

“It’s my birthday.”

“That’s right, and you’re ten. A whole decade, Maes! How does that feel?”

“It feels...good, mother.”

Her smile fades, but the look in her eye remains.

“That’s very interesting to hear. Why does it feel good?”

You are very quickly realizing it was a trap, but you’re not even sure what for. What should you have said? What did you say wrong, she’s still looking at you-

“I….I don’t know.” You stammer out, avoiding eye contact. She grabs your chin and tilts your head up to face hers. 

“You don’t know? Then why did you say it feels good, if you don’t even know why?” She doesn’t wait for your answer, digging her claws in just to hurt. “What do we always say about this, Maes?”

“Feelings...” You can barely talk with her hand squeezing so tight. “Feelings have to have reasons, or they aren’t valuable.”

“Or?”

“Logical.” She releases your face and you stagger a bit. 

“You’re ten years old, Maes. Remember what you’ve been taught. Now, come with me.”

“Yes, mother.” You watch as she unlocks a door, grabbing your hand and pulling you inside. 

The room is better kept than the ones your siblings get, but of a similar size- there is another child here, laying on a bunk bed. She startles when she sees your mother and scrambles to attention, throwing the book she was reading aside.

“Hello, B-144, how are you?”

“I’m well, ma’am! Thank you for the visit today!” The girl was a pockitt, and way shorter than you- but there’s something about her you can’t pin down.

 Your first thought is that your mother’s going to have you fight her, and your second is that this other child may actually beat you. Even with her size, she looks even more fit than you are and far less hesitant towards violence. You think you see a bruise or two around her arms, and that makes you even more worried. Your train of thought is derailed by your mother clapping her hand onto your shoulder, making you jump.

“Maes, this is B-144. I’ve had her in my care since a few years before you were born”

“Oh...is she my sister?”

She laughs, and it takes her a second to collect herself. “Oh, god, no. No. B-144 is nowhere near the level of perfection you are.”

The girl doesn’t even flinch at her harsh words, keeping her back straight. Your mother continues.

“No, B-144 is….a gift. From an old patient. She’s very clever- aren’t you, 144?”

“Yes, ma’am! I finished my math work earlier this week. I’m studying very hard for the upcoming exams.”

“Very good! You see, Maes, only you…” She frowns slightly. “And your sisters, have received education from me. You three were the only ones I trusted to retain and use the knowledge I give you, instead of wasting my time. 144 receives the same education the guards do, and yet...she excels at it, enough to get my notice.”

“Is she going to become a guard?”

“No, not anymore. That was my original plan, but! But. I have decided she has a far more useful purpose.”
She leans in, her eyes unblinking. “You see, you’re ten years old now. 144 is twelve, and I expect you to be far beyond her in your studies, seeing as you’re so gifted, and taught formally by myself. But that’s where you’ve failed me, Maes.”

If you had blood, it would run cold.

“Do you remember that test you took, the other day?”

“Y-yes, mother.”

“I have given 144 the very same test, and she surpassed you in all categories. All of them. I expect so much more from you.”

You think you see the girl shift uncomfortably, and she sends you an apologetic look- by her expression, she didn’t know anything about this.

“Given all of the luxuries and love I’ve given you, at ten, you should be doing far better. I was so disappointed to read those results, but I realized I could fix things.”

Her grin returns. 
“You’ve grown lazy without your sisters to compete with, and while this child can never aspire to be near such high status, she will serve under you well.”

“What?!” The girl raises her voice, clapping her claws over her mouth at her own outburst. Luckily for her, your mother is too busy staring dead into your eyes, her grin reaching the sides of her face. 

“Since you are ten, it’s time to start teaching you how to lead this facility, so that you may aid me when you are older. From now on, she will serve not only as your academic tutor but as the first staff member you have say over.”

“She w-works for me?”

“Stop stuttering and asking things I just explained, Maes. Please.”

“Sorry, mother...What does she do?”

“For the duration of your current studies, tutor will do just fine. However, as you begin training for your more advanced skills, such as surgery, she will be your assistant. She is to aid you in anything you ask.”

“Do I get a choi-” 144 tries to speak up, and your mother hits her without even turning to face her- not very hard, but enough to knock the girl back. The girl sniffs and pulls herself up, even now trying to keep a brave face. “...sorry, ma’am.”

“Did you see that, Maes? She may be a good student, but she’s been known to have a rebellious streak. She speaks out of turn even now, at twelve. She may have you beaten in schooling, but you can teach her in the ways of manners, and professionalism- be firm with her. Very, very firm. Do you understand?”

“Yes, mother.”

“And do you understand, 144?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Very good! Maes, I need to check in with the guards of this block- why don’t you stay here and get to know your new employee?”

You nod, and she slams the door behind her. The two of you stand silently until you’re sure she’s gone, only turning to each other when you’re sure the click of her heels has faded.

“....”

“....”

“So...are you going to hit me? Like your mom?”

“N-no! No, I wouldn’t…”

“You don’t look like her at all, so I guessed not. She looks mean, and you just look...I don’t know, lost.”

You look down at your feet and sit on the floor without a word.

“Hey, hey! I didn’t mean anything by it. I just...I get it. I’m lost too.”

She sits with you, and extends a hand. “I probably don’t get it in the same way you do, but I’m Synna.”

“I thought your number-”

“Fuck numbers.” You startle visibly at her cursing, and she grins. You are very, very grateful your mother wasn’t here to hear that and punish you both. “I picked it out of a book I read once, and now it’s mine. You like it?”

“It’s...cool.”

“Yeah, it is! That’s what I thought!”

You’re seeing more bruises on her now that you’re sitting, and you have absolutely no idea how someone with that many can be so perky, when just a single hit used to put you in a mental hole for days.

“How...how do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How are you...okay after that?”

“Oh, the slap?” She touches the spot on her face where your mother’s hand made contact. “I dunno...I’ve been here a long time, since I was a baby. You get used to it.”

“You do? You do get used to it?”

“Yeah, not in a good way I don’t think...but I try not to think about it, I guess.”

You let it sink in. “Do you think when I’m twelve, like you, it won’t hurt anymore?”

“Maybe. That’s kind of hard to say...but, hey. If we both live, and don’t get eaten-” She makes a silly face and you can’t help but laugh a little. “-You’ll be twelve, and I’ll be fourteen, and we’ll be unstoppable. You’re my boss now, right? Well, I’ll be the best damn assistant you’ve ever had-”

“You’re the only assistant I’ve ever had.”

“As of like, ten minutes! And I’m going to be the only one, because I’ll be the best. Your  mom won’t be able to punish either of us if we work together, right?”

“We could try.”

“Awesome.” She sticks out a hand, and you stare at it for a good few seconds. “We’re friends now, right?”

“Oh, I...I guess so!” You shake her hand, and you feel a smile creep onto your face for the first time in ages. As she runs over to show you the books she’s been reading, you feel like maybe this would work out, maybe this once.