Chapter Text
Before Fink knew it, he was everywhere.
What was once a two man show became three, became six, became a crowd . She thought it was hard to work with her boss when it was just them, but suddenly he was gripped by an eagle’s claw and thrown so far away that her short little legs couldn’t chase after him for long.
So she sat down.
Pushed lint around her pocket then distracted herself with her games. It hurt worse when she stopped pushing and he fully pulled back, unaware of her absence and happily so. And that’s just it– he’s never been so happy . She felt sick whenever she finally caught sight of him, planning a new scheme with the round Boxman or just talking , normally, like he wasn’t a villain of the highest standing.
She felt worse how hard her heart would skip when he finally turned that gentle smile towards her, finally needing her for the ploy they decided on and situating her inside one of Stinkman’s boxes to toss at the plaza. Her new toys brought about a sense of instant gratification that felt like a piece of her boss’s attention physically manifested, and even when they got ruined, she would hold onto a piece to store away. A reminder that he was still her boss, even if it didn’t feel like it most of the time.
But then the truth came out, and her boss’s obsession with his secret son was a secret no more. Suddenly he was brought in like he didn’t break all her favorite toys. Like he didn’t already have enough of her boss’s attention. Like he didn’t already have a parent that gave him everything.
He was everywhere.
Her sensitive nose scrunched at his scent, something vague she only knew glimpses of during fights now making a permanent slot in her home . Her safe space. She hated it. Why did he have to take even more than he already had? Powers, charisma, a safety network of friends and family that always went out of their way for him, and now he had to dip his toes in her world?
Fink growled watching the grainy reflection in her monitor of the father and son behind her, so bright and hopeful that it distracted her from even her games . Her noise canceling headphones still leaked just enough to hear his infuriating murmur and her boss’s rare chuckle.
Game over.
She rage quit.
As she grew up, her boiling anger lost its steam. She found solace in isolation, staying in her nest and building her hand-eye coordination and game strategies. If she wasn’t out in the lair much, she didn’t have to see the way life moved on without her. It became easier to accept that she just wasn’t made to be someone’s everything. She didn’t have parents. She didn’t have a family or friends. It wasn’t in her cards, so being upset about being dealt the wrong hand meant nothing so long as she was still in the game. She’d find a way to make it work out for her, because no one else would.
“Fink?”
“Yes, boss?” She swiveled in her chair, finally tall enough to plant her feet firmly on the ground instead of pushing the desk to rotate. Fink may have built up her walls and lowered her expectations, but she lost just a little of her resolve whenever that voice called out to her, sought her out without her fighting for it.
Venomous opened the door fully once he had her attention, a respect of privacy. He was always very, very respectful of her privacy. Probably because he wanted the same from her. Good thing she at least did that right, finally giving him space to breathe, so much so that every once in a while, he actually did try to find her. All the self deprecating thoughts during the time away from him felt worthwhile in these moments where she felt a little seen.
“I know a lot has changed, and your territory has gotten a lot smaller as an effect of it, but I’m worried you’re gonna suffocate at the rate you’re shutting yourself in.” A lukewarm hand rested on her shoulder, and Fink felt her heart stutter with the revving of hope. “Boxman and I–” Her eyes blanked. Of course. Boxman. It wasn’t something he thought of on his own, but that stupid Stinkman butting in where he doesn’t belong. Yet… yet it felt like he looked out for her more than her boss did. It made her nose sting. She didn’t want his charity.
“–were thinking that you may profit from some… environmental stimulation.” Oh, so they were kicking her out. See if she cared. “Okay.” She half shrugged. “Where am I going.” He blinked. “...I wasn’t expecting you to be so unphased, but no matter,” he stood up and clapped his hands together, “From today on, you’re working in the plaza.”
Her tail sprung out like an overly tightened guitar string, “What? Boss! Why are you sending me over to the baby corner?! If anything I’d die from understimulation, heck, I’d lose brain cells!” Venomous’s shoulders bounced with a stifled laugh, “I thought it wouldn’t be that easy. Now Fink, I think there’s a lot for you to learn by taking up a general laborer job. Especially since things aren’t the way they were. It’ll be good for you.”
Sneering, she disagreed.
“I even set you up in an apartment, the first month is paid for, but the rest is on you. This is a learning opportunity for some good life skills.” Dropping to one knee, he took her hand in his. She allowed it. “I know you’ll take it in stride.” His eyes looked confident, and it’s been a while since he really looked at her. Fink felt the bubbling of frustration foam up her throat, but she took a deep breath through her nose instead.
“Fine.”
The apartment was ugly. The sink had water that tasted bad. The view was more apartments on the other side of the street. But Fink could get past all that. What she couldn’t was the big eyed, puppy dog eared idiot that was one door down and staring at her like she grew a sudden appreciation for him. Which she in fact did not .
“You done?” She asked, mood flushing down the toilet. Snapping out of it with a shake of his head, he looked at her again, “Uh, sorry! I just really wasn’t expecting my new neighbor to be my…” He struggled, having thankfully learned that Venomous was not her dad by her repeated beatings of it into his ridiculously thick skull. “Nemesis?” The rat girl supplied with an eye roll. He twitched his nose like a rabbit, displeased, “No… Reluctant acquaintance? Nah, that’s way too distant. In-law?”
Her claws came out and he yipped in alarm, “Wait!! That’s wrong too! Uh–um… C-competitor?” His eyes squeezed a little at that but she relaxed her hand. “Yeah. You would be if you stood a chance, that is.” She finished unlocking her door and stepped in before he could try and grate her nerves any more that he already had.
“Fink, wai–”
The door shutting in his face was immensely satisfying, and she sighed in relief. It was guaranteed that her boss knew the room he put her in was neighboring his son’s, but she couldn’t fathom why he’d plan it this way.
Then it hit her. Darrel. The two had put them in a room together to force comradery, which worked . Hiccups or otherwise her boss took the scientific route every time, and if a pattern developed, a theory could be made and he’d take to the method like a law should it continue to provide results.
So they thought if she got along with mommy’s boy here, she’d finally stop sulking in her room and they’d let her come back? Learn some valuable life lessons and be useful again?
Fine. She’d play.
“Hey, numbskull!” She called, reopening her door. K.O straightened from his sad slouch while jingling his keys, having far too many on one keychain, and looked down at her with surprise. “I ain’t got any food yet, whatcha got in yer fridge.” He blinked, “...Are you asking for help?” Fire burned hot and wild in her eyes, and she sneered, “Who’d want it from you! You F tier hero!” And once again, slammed the door.
Her toe stubbed the next morning and she glared down at the obstacle outside her front door, bright red and square; a travel cooler. Immediately curious, she popped it open to find a juice pouch, bottled water, chicken salad, and a cookie. Grabbing that, she sniffed. “Yuck.” She muttered. A sugar cookie.
Using her shirt as a pouch, she shoved it all inside, kicking the cooler into her neighbor’s entrance before shuffling off to her first day on the job.
The chill wasn’t biting, unlike Fink, who was ripping her teeth into the chicken with loud mouth smacks. Her paws padding on the concrete rippled around the barren parking lot, some lamp posts illuminating the area. Up ahead was less like a beacon and more like a second sun burning the retina with the amount of fluorescent store lights blaring through the five AM morning dew.
The sliding doors didn’t open as she stepped onto the mat, and she nearly ate shit. Spitting on the ground, she banged against the glass. “What’s the big idea?” She yelled. Some poor sap, a gangly ginger cat with big red glasses, stepped up with an army of keys holding on to dear life to a lanyard.
“Uhh–” He stammered, and just by the voice crack alone she could tell he was going to be the most annoying person on staff. “Here! My little trick is to remember that green means go .” Supplied the most annoying person in the whole cob damned world . The doors fwished and she body checked K.O when he didn’t move fast enough. “Next time that happens I’m going home. You hear me?” Fink didn’t so much as give them a glance, muttering to herself as she approached the break room, “Don’t even wanna be here in the first place.”
Kicking it open, she dropped her stuff on the table, taking the last bite of chicken salad. Wiping her mouth with her arm, she turned back around, tail flying out in alarm when K.O was within breathing distance. She was already snarling when he quickly interrupted with a jingle, “Here you go! That way you won’t get locked out again. Welcome to the Bodega, Fink!” His pearly whites were too reflective, her fierce resentment mirrored in his smile.
He then plopped a heavy fabric over her arms, quick and efficient, but the retrack of his hands had her suspicious. She set her stare into his eyes, and with enough time, as he explained the rules and regulations of the Bodega, did he shift his sight to not be looking right at her. The self satisfied smirk pulled at her lips, and she scoffed when he noticed what he had done and resolutely tried to maintain eye contact again.
What a loser.
And what’s worse? She was going to be taking orders from him.
Face settling back, she crossed her arms. In order for this to be over with as quickly as possible, she was going to have to play by the rules. No tricks, no games. Nothing that would make this bearable. But at least it wouldn’t last.
When K.O came to a standstill, trying to keep his feet planted instead of shifting, did Fink relent. “Alright.” Popping her head through the apron top and tying the straps behind her back, she started on opening duties.
“Ah, um. That’s great initiative, Fink! Thank you for doing that, but when we restock, we pull the oldest up front to guarantee freshness.” Fink stared lamely, “They’re the oldest, I guarantee they’re not fresh.” But she took them all out to reorganize them anyway.
“I love the communication, you’re always straight to the point! Next time you’re speaking with a customer, could we use gentler language? They might feel like they’re burdening you.” Fink took a breath in, hip leaning against the display some nobody couldn’t find despite standing right next to it, “Probably because they are .” Though the next time a snot nosed infant knocked over products, Fink simply said, “It’s fine.” instead of “Watch your kid, lady.” When the mother apologized profusely.
“You’re already mopping? Wow! You blasted through the list fast! Just make sure you put the wet floor sign out, we don’t want any slips.” Fink licked her teeth, the ginger cat slamming into the wall at just the right moment, bringing K.O’s point home. Tch, no one would have actually slipped, just tryn’a make me look bad. She nearly spit on the ground, but grabbed the sign and slapped it down instead.
When Fink finally flipped the open to closed , she nearly cheered. A long, deep sigh wisped out of her mouth and she closed her eyes momentarily; she could finally begin the preparations to leave. She turned, the breakroom’s door knob eating up her pupils so thoroughly she missed the ginger cat knocking his knees together with every earthquakey step behind her, upper body concealed by cardboard.
Hanging up the apron and grabbing her shift benefits (several chips and sodas), she kicked the door shut as she left the rest area. Some boxes littered the register’s counter but she couldn’t remember if they had been there prior to her retreat, barely letting the thought pass as she continued her hustle out.
Her peripheral caught them before her mind could recognize the situation that had befallen her, her gate too strong, brain already set in it’s course. K.O was slightly hunched, lifting a box off the ginger whose legs were splayed out on the floor, ass flat to the sparkling tile.
At once her skin prickled. “You already played that card, don’t go blaming this on me.” K.O looked up, confusion on his dogish face, “Fink, why weren’t you helping him?” Her eyes squinted, pausing right before the sensor that waited for her arrival in anticipation.
“Excuse you?”
K.O hardened his gaze a few degrees above aluminum, “We leave as a team. Ralphord still has a few more boxes to unpack, and he was clearly tackling too much on his own. During times like this, helping our coworkers is the key to positive workplace morale.” Fink’s nose tilted down, her glare sharpening itself several times over fresh novaculite, “I did my job. He does his. You do yours. Or am I to start taking on managerial tasks too? Need me to file the bodega’s taxes while I’m at it?”
K.O stood, Ralphord looking from his spot on the floor as if sizing up whether he’d be able to hide behind him if the tension became unbearable for his weak bones to hold up against. Crossing the store, K.O put the container on the counter, causing Fink to slowly spin in place to keep her eye on him. They were only a few feet apart, space smaller due to her distended shirt full of snacks. “Fink, you’ve done so good today–” Her eyes flashed, a constriction in her stomach upsetting her spine as high as it could go. She barely recognized her arm shooting up to clock him in the cheek, those words so vitriol it forced her into action.
The pressure in her chest eased like a little valve unlatched, increments at a time, when he reeled back from the surprise. Vinegar settled on her tongue, molasses in the bottom of her belly as the adrenaline was smoothed with satisfaction. She tempted the thought to do it again, and again , but K.O must have sensed this, taking a proper step back into a loose defensive stance.
“If you can’t do this Fink, no one is stopping you from going back to Boxmore.” His cheek wasn’t quite affected yet, but she knew it would swell and color eventually. The prickly organs inside her filled with more sweet goo, and she relished just a little fantasy of how ugly it would be tomorrow, then immediately frowned as he spoke. The white hot ire of how untrue that statement was wrinkled her nose, but she’d rather bite a bullet than back down with her tail between her legs as she returned to that place, admitting defeat to a perpetually disappointed Venomous.
It’s like everything she did never amounted to anything because all everyone saw were her faults. Why does she even try?
Nearly stomping, she turned and grabbed a box one handed and brought it back. Doing so in succession until there were none left. It happened fast enough that the cat feared getting in her way, and before they knew it, she was done. Looking up at K.O, she twisted to find a clock, then sneered at him, “That’s OT.” As she flipped back to the doors, she spat towards the still seated Ralphford, “Thanks for the help.” The chime of the electronic bell couldn’t even be enjoyed as she finally stormed out.
Bitterness filled his lungs in her wake, his tail swatting.