Work Text:
“We'll take some of your blood too”
Rudo gulped, shivering under everyone's false smiles, or in Zanka's case, threatening, he knew he wasn't getting out of this. Hell, Rudo wouldn't be surprised if his trainer decided to hold him down, kicking and biting, with his assiststaff to draw blood.
Not that Rudo minded a small cut, he's used to pain it's just… Rudo looked down at his gloves, eyeing the worn out leather. He felt his heart drop at the thought of taking them off, at revealing the bandages underneath and slowly unwrapping them to expose the scarred skin underneath.
Biting his lip, Rudo remembers back up on the Sphere. The stares from the Spherites crowded around him, keeping their distance as if he were a wild diseased animal, scrutinizing every inch of his wounds with whispers of disgust and cruelty warping around him like a vice and Rudo could do nothing but curl up and try to disappear.
Rudo knows that the Cleaners are different. Enjin and the others have already proven that it's just… The curious looks from the fresh, white bandages turned to horror when he unwraps them. He can hear the startled shouts and see the flinch of disgust when he tries to bite into his thumb to draw blood and worse, pity when he eventually crumbles to the numbing pain that becomes too much to bear as they surround him and try to grab him to see the damage. Then Rudo can see them. The piercing eyes he always saw back on the Sphere. Inhuman eyes from the scraggly charcoal forms of people that his too tired brain couldn't comprehend as their words become muddled around. Questions he can't- he won't- he refuses to answer.
“Rudo?”
Rudo, startled out of his spiral, looks up and sees Enjin's concern. “You alright kiddo?”
Sheepishly he rubs his neck a little embarrassed, licking his now bruised lip in thought (he ignored the slight copper taste in his mouth). Opening and closing his hands for a bit he looked to his right shoulder and his eyes widened with an idea. Looking back towards the group.
“Hey Gris, can I borrow your knife?”
“Oh sure” Gris says as he rummages around in his bag. Grabbing his knife and handing it over to Rudo the younger mutters a thanks before lifting up his right arm and slicing.
“Whoa”
“Rudo!”
Rudo hisses a little watching the frayed edge of the fabric darken. Damn he must have cut a little too deep. Hoping that August wouldn't be too upset, or too loud, at him for staining his new uniform so soon he looks back up seeing everyone's startled reactions. “Umm” eyes seem to focus back on Rudo who awkwardly lifts his upper arm a bit more. Looking around helplessly not knowing what to say his eyes meet green.
Riyo remembers from last night. Even with what little light from the polluted clouds she could see how damaged Rudo's hands were. Seeing him flinch when her eyes slide down towards his gloves Riyo smiles and casually walks up to him. Taking her collar out she gently taps Rudo's upper arm. Rudo isn't completely sure how to confirm if they exchanged blood but when Riyo pulls away and clicks her collar back on her neck he guesses the exchange was over. “Thanks Rudo” she says as she turns back to the other cleaners “Come on guys hurry up”. She meets Enjin's gaze and after a beat nods in understanding he smiles. “Alright, alright” sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck he walks up to Rudo, collar in hand, everyone else follows suit.
Other than the occasional raised eyebrow from Zanka and the concerned look from Follo the tension in the air seems to dissipate. Gris thanks him after he returns the knife and Tomme quickly flags him down to bandage his arm. Delmen somehow fits himself into the back of the car and when he meets Tamsey’s eyes while climbing in the elder gives him a gentle smile.
The engine roars to life and Rudo meets Enjin's gaze in the rear view mirror. The older man smiles, dimples showing as he slams down on the gas pedal.
“Alright off to Penta!”