Chapter Text
An employee was hired by Doctor Harlow, and Secret Agent wanted to see them himself. His shift was the same day as Intern's first appearance in this hospital. He stepped inside the building, already seeing his new coworker standing behind the office glass. The bunny waved at him with a creepy smile on their face and wide open eyes, making the black cat prepare a gun to shoot. He squeezed the pistol with his hands near the trigger. Intern scared the hell out of Secret Agent with their looks.
A customer came in, and he hid the gun away—he shouldn't terrify the patient and he had to hide his actual identity with the mask of a pharmacist.
"Hey..." the person said visibly unnerved by Intern's appearance. "I have an appointment..." the animal continued with fear, wishing to see the usual secretary.
"Okie!" the newest employee spoke to the customer joyfully. They stamped the paper and took the picture of the patient. Intern immediately printed the badge and gave it to the person in front of them, then escorted to the right room.
They didn't check the photo! What if it was an anomaly?! The agent thought the same.
Secret Agent went to the first room, too. "What if they do something to the patient? I need to see the treatment myself," he told himself, opening the door.
Intern analysed DNA and came up with a conclusion—the customer had a stomach ache. They went to the stall with herbs, took them and gave them to the patient.
"The diagnosis was right, the treatment too. But I still shouldn't lower my guard," the black cat commented, viewing the coworker intensely, while slightly squinting his eyes.
Intern left the ward, peacefully heading to the office again. One patient remained to check them in.
"Stop."
And the bunny stood in the hallway. Lamps shone bright, flicking sometimes, and no slime was on the floor. They glanced at the fake pharmacist with confusion, having a "Do you need something?" expression.
"How did you know it wasn't an anomaly?"
The serious tone intimidated them. They lowered their ears, but an answer didn't come late, "Anomalies can't visit this soon," a trembling voice was heard meanwhile.
"How do you know?" more reasons to doubt appeared with their reply. What a shitty excuse.
"I... Uhm... Researched it?"
Without giving the time to answer, a patient suddenly finished recovering and opened the door with a loud sound. It startled both of them and the black cat's tail went up tousled.
"I'll let it slide for once," he declared and stepped into the office, rarely looking back.
"Did I get caught already?" Intern pondered, checking the system window.
—
[SANITY: 90]
[MONEY: 0]
[INVENTORY: empty]
[SHIFT: 1]
[HINT: no anomalies on the first shift]
—
"I need to be more careful from now on," they told themselves. A customer passed by, and the bunny began to treat them. Of course under Secret Agent's supervision.
"Oh, you have dried eyes, I'll come with the medicine soon!" Intern told the visitor, leaving the room. They picked up eye drops and healed the animal. "All done, you can go," the bunny said happily.
The first shift ended quickly, and they looked at the system window again.
—
[SANITY: 88]
[MONEY: 63]
[INVENTORY: empty]
[SHIFT: 2]
[HINT: hold eye drops to not receive sanity loss from death ritual]
—
"What are you looking at?" a question sounded behind Intern's back. Won't it be weird if someone blankly stared at—at least for anyone else—nothing? And what if that someone was already suspicious?
"What are you two gossiping about?" Doctor Harlow asked, appearing out of nowhere, making both of the employees jump. "Am I that scary to you?" he teased them with eyes shut and a grin. The bunny shook their head, answering, and the agent just hissed. "Anyways, I fixed the shutters and cameras," he said and left. That's all. What does he even do?
A patient rang a bell, announcing their presence. Intern raced to check in the visitor. It was a small black rat similar to an anomaly. He was really short you could hardly see him. "Being small has its advantages... I hear things... I see things... It's a dangerous job..." the rodent spoke.
"Sounds pretty cool! What kind of job is it?" the bunny inquired nicely, smiling as always with slightly closed eyes.
"I will tell you later," the rat said, exchanging glances with the fake pharmacist who was shaking his head, while crossing his hands, showing a no.
"I'll treat him myself," Secret Agent declared, escorting the patient to the fifth room.
"Okie," Intern said, preparing for a new visitor. After some time a hare with brown beret was seen.
"Hey there, friend, I’m Barney. Can you give me a coffee? I had a long day..."
"Of course!" they replied, making coffee for him. "Take it," the bunny handed a cup with a hot drink.
"Thanks friend, I needed that… I will remember this," Barney spoke and left the hospital.
"He's quite friendly for an anomaly" Intern thought after smelling a 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 from the hare.
Meanwhile Ratthew lied on the bunk nearby Secret Agent analysing his DNA. The diagnosis was... Canadian! "Take your maple syrup," the black cat offered a bottle with it.
"Thanks."
Awkward silence began. They were coworkers but not close ones. They only worked together on a specific mission related to the rodent's sister—Rattina. It was... Long ago.
"I like that new one. They treat me like a normal person and they resemble an anomaly, too."
...
"I'm done," Ratthew announced. "See you later."
"Yes, goodbye."
Intern healed another patient but it wasn't a simple one, it was an anomaly with big void-like black eyes. And Secret Agent came when the ritual started. He was devastated because what the hell was happening?! Why would they let this in?! But the newest employee was pretty calm. They held eye drops and extinguished candles one by one.
"Phew, it's all done."
The patient's face changed. "Ah, thank you, doctor!" they pronounced. "I was possessed and now I'm healthy thanks to you!" they were really glad.
"It's alright, that's my work after all."
Secret Agent doubted them, but they actually healed patients with care. And even anomalies turned into a decent person after their treatment. The fake pharmacist didn't know that this way of healing worked, meaning he rejected innocent people all this time. Also... Maybe, their appearance didn't matter? The black cat didn't want to hurt someone because of their looks... Again.
"Sorry," the agent's apology was sincere, and Intern noticed it. They looked back at him who had a pitiful expression. "I thought you were suspicious. But now... I think you're a good person. Forgive me, please," he avoided eye contact with a droop tail and lowered ears.
"It's okay," the bunny said, hugging their coworker and thinking, "Aw, he's so cute! And also I can finally rest a bit."
Secret Agent blushed, and his tail went upwards, saying in his head, "Why all of a sudden?! It's so embarrassing..." but still he hugged them back, hearing a silent laugh, "What's so funny?!"
"You're so shy, it's adorable," Intern whispered in the agent's ear, not stopping giggling. They patted his head.
"I have to bear with it..." the black cat thought, secretly enjoying it.
"You two are bonding so well," Doctor Harlow remarked teasing them again. "Your shift has come to an end, you can go."
"Okie, bye-bye!"
"Goodbye."
"Farewell, my employees!"