Chapter Text
Twenty-six year old Gregor Samsa had only a couple more days until he received his biology degree. Only a couple more days until he inevitably moved back in with his mother, doomed to work in one of her biotech laboratories until she either died or no longer had any need for him, in which case he would go back to serving as a subject for her various medical trials. Meursault would end up offering a stone-faced goodbye, which would have been the first time they had spoken to one another since Gregor had moved in with him. Meursault had never ended up sharing the details of his relationship with Gregor's mother, who had only ever described the man as "a former employee of mine". It's not as if it mattered too much, though. Meursault would never need to share those details with him, anyways.
With the way his future was looking, it wasn't a particularly difficult decision. His present was already bad enough.
As he made his way towards his destination under the dim streetlights, cigarette slowly burning toward the corner of his mouth, he wondered what Meursault would think upon returning home from work and seeing the scribbled letter and envelope of money. With how little the two of them spoke, Gregor wondered whether the man would think anything about it at all. Not too far, now. He let out a puff of smoke, steadily walking along the quiet urban streets. He took one final puff before extinguishing his cigarette on the ground and stuffing his hand in his pocket. The distance between streetlamps grew, stretching more and more as the bridge came into view. It was just about when he reached the end closest to him that he spotted a figure in front of him and stopped. They appeared to be a woman, though it was difficult to tell. He quietly moved closer.
It was only upon closer inspection under the lamp's dim light that Gregor realized that he recognized her. He had seen her around campus a handful of times, always smiling and surrounded by various people, and here she stood before him in a way that heavily suggested she was about to do something drastic. Of course, it really wasn't his business, but the thought of leaping off a bridge immediately after someone else did the same right in front of him just didn't seem right. His heart began to pound as she began stepping up onto the guard rail, his legs urging him to move, to do something. One foot, then two. She climbed over, letting herself stand on the very edge and look down at the dark water below.
He began to run, his voice reaching him before he could even think about speaking. "H-Hey-!" He called out. The woman jumped slightly, turning to look at him with a bewildered expression on her face. "What?!" She called back, watching him approach. He got to her fairly quickly, although he was wheezing by the time he arrived. "What... What are you doing?!" He looked at her like she was crazy.
"What does it look like?" She looked back at him, the panting, disheveled-looking man in a sweatshirt, as though he had just asked her the stupidest thing she had ever heard.
"I mean... Haaaah..." Gregor continued to catch his breath. "I..."
"Did you really run all the way over here just to ask me what I'm doing?" She let out a slight chuckle.
"Phew... No. You shouldn't do this." He stood up straight and looked her in the eye, silently pleading for her to get down.
"Oh? And why is that, Mister...?" She waited for him to tell her his name.
"Gregor. Samsa. Gregor Samsa." Gregor adjusted his glasses. He was about to continue when she interrupted him, smirking. "Greg. Babe. You really aren't one to be talking, y'know~? People don't just go on walks at this time of night, especially not looking like... that." She gestured towards his outfit. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I don't have much reason to turn back at the moment. You'll have to try a little harder. And -" She brought her hand up and stuck her index finger out. "- If you do somehow manage to talk me down, don't expect me to let you take my place. That wouldn't be fair."
He thought for a minute. "If fairness matters, why don't you tell me what your name is, first?" Gregor mainly just wanted to stall her until he was actually able to think of something.
"I'm nobody, Greg. My name's not important." Her response was dry.
"Wh- No you're not! Somebody who's nobody wouldn't have anywhere near as many friends as you do, huh?" He retorted. "Oh yeah? And what friends do you think I have?" Gregor thought back to the few times he had seen her on campus. "Well, let me think... That loud blonde girl seems to like you, right? And, uh... that fella with the purple-y hair? And the green eye? There are a bunch more, too!"
The woman snickered. "Greg, have you been stalking me or something? How do you know so much about who I hang around with, hm~?" Gregor frowned. "Wh- No! No, I've seen you walking around at uni, that's-"
"Relax, babe. I'm teasing. You should see the look on your face! It's adorable!"
He stammered. "This is your life here! Be serious!" This only made her laugh more. "Fine, fine~ Rodion. My name's Rodion." She sighed, looking up at the sky before looking back at him. "You're real determined, aren't you?"
Gregor was at a loss for words. He made a vague gesture with his hands - or, hand and foreleg - something close to a shrug. "Tell me about yourself, Greg. Tell me why you're out here. Tell me what you're doing in this part of town at this time of night." Gregor frowned again. "If I do, will you come down?" Rodion shrugged. "Maybe~"
He exhaled. "Fine."