Work Text:
The Animal Hospital was a mess.
It didn't take an idiot to realize that. With the amount of anomalies appearing every shift and with how understaffed the hospital was (their extremely qualified doctor doesn't do shit, and dealing with dozens of anomalies every day with only one security guard who isn't even there every day?), it was no wonder the government wanted Secret Agent to investigate this place. The Animal Corporation had more than enough money to fund the hospital properly. Judging by the state of the building, very little of it actually reached the staff.
After grabbing a mint tea from the shop, Secret Agent walked back to the check-in office. In there was one other animal, Security.
Security was sipping on warm coffee that was likely brewed recently. The coffee machine was not ready for another 118 seconds. She finished her last sip and put the mug away before noticing Secret Agent. Her entire mood shifted, becoming much more relaxed.
"Assistant! Hi! I'm surprised you're here? The shift doesn't start until seven."
Secret Agent rolled up her sleeve to check her watch. She was a whole 30 minutes early.
"I didn't notice. Do you just want to chat for now?"
Despite the enthusiasm that Security seemed to have everytime she was in the vicinity of Secret Agent, the black cat did not feel the same way. She had a job to do, and that included not making unnecessary friendships with these animals.
Secret Agent had been trying to get on the good side of many of these animals. Head Nurse was still suspicious of her, which made sense. She was knowledgeable and experienced, it would take quite a bit more effort to get the white fox to trust her completely.
Many of her coworkers spilled a lot of much needed information, most of them not even realizing. Security was unusually outspoken when discussing Dr. Harlow and the Animal Corporation. She was an invaluable source of information.
Security leaned against the counter after finishing the last of the morning paperwork. Secret Agent hadn't been paying enough attention to determine exactly what it was. "So…" She started, tilting her head slightly to the right. "Any plans after work?"
Secret Agent took a small sip of her tea. "Nothing in particular."
"That's what I thought, you seem like the type of person who has a boring ass life."
"What else do you think of me?"
Security hummed, clearly thinking about it.
"You remind me of the stalker a bit… both of you are pretty—how do I put this—like a shadow? Both of you feel like you're just watching over the hospital with no malicious intent. Or maybe there is malicious intent, hah! Maybe you're a secret agent for the government or something!"
Secret Agent kept her composure. Despite her cover nearly being exposed by some sarcastic joke, she recreated an unamused expression, rolling her eyes at an attempt to deflect. Security laughed, her hand hitting the counter multiple times.
Secret Agent had not intended to make Security laugh. She was slightly surprised by it.
The reaction was… unexpectedly pleasant.
While Security laughed often, especially at her own jokes, this time, it was becase of Secret Agent.
For some reason, that information was strangely satisfying.
…
The observation served no purpose, but she remembered it anyway.
She took another sip of her tea.
Focus.
She was here to investigate the hospital, not its security guard.
Sceret Agent decided to go back to what Security said about her. "A shadow, huh?" It reminded her of something. She swore that one little rat patient had mentioned something about a Shadow to her. What was his name?
"Hey, what's that one rat patient named again?"
"Oh! Ratthew! He's so silly, I love him! One time, he and Ron walked to the check-in windows at the same time and were—"
Secret Agent drowned Security's rambling out. Oh well, if she was unable to recollect it, she could always ask about it when he came back.
"—I don't think he's coming back, though…"
Dammit.
"That's unfortunate, I was hoping the see the guy again."
"Same…" Security sighed before brightening up again. "Hey, where'd you get that gun?" She seemed genuinely curious instead of suspicious, thankfully.
Secret Agent carefully pulled her gun out, placing it on the counter in front of her. "I bought it on my first day here." She lied. It was an item that was given to her on her second shift by the government. Very useful for dealing with anomalies. Similar to Security's taser, it regenerated ammo after each shift.
"Damn, you pulled some luck to get one of the best items in the shop."
"Indeed…"
Security walked to the coffee machine to grab yet another cup of coffee. Secret Agent was starting to think the bat had an addiction. "What is the best item to get in the shop in your opinion? I really love seeing the chocolate, I love chocolate."
"Is chocolate even good for bats?"
"I don't know, but I'm not gonna stop eating it."
Secret Agent simply shrugged. "Your choice."
"Hey, you didn't answer my question yet!" Security feined anger, impatiently waiting for the answer.
"Oh. I quite enjoy seeing the green tea in the shop." Secret Agent paused, hesitatant to share what she wanted to say, but eventually caved in. "Dr. Harlow also enjoys green tea? Are you aware of that?"
"No, damn. I guess old people really do love green tea."
Secret Agent pretended to feel very offended by that comment. "I am only 26."
"You're younger than me? Dammit… I'm 28…"
"Hah."
Adopting some of Security's speaking quirks hopefully made Secret Agent more pleasant to talk to. She wanted to interact with the bat more, not even as a ploy to get more information, but to just talk.
Wanting to continue a conversation served no investigative purpose.
Yet she found herself hoping the shift wouldn't start for at least a few more minutes.
Secret Agent paused, discovering details about the bat that she hadn't noticed before.
Secret Agent paused, discovering details about the bat that she hadn't noticed before.
The way her wings twitched when feeling embarrassment or excitement was oddly endearing. They would retract whenever she grew nervous, then spread ever so slightly whenever she laughed.
She wondered if Security even realized she did it.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Security asked, slightly chuckling.
"I wasn't."
"Nuh uh."
Whenever Security smiled, her teeth would become visible. Secret Agent had counted 33 teeth. One tooth at the back of Security's mouth, which normally would be there, was missing.
Secret Agent blinked, startled by her own thoughts. She was starting to think unusual things, stuff she wouldn't normally store in her head.
She was noticing the little details about the bat in front her, little details that no regular animal would observe so casually.
And that's when she realized something about her own thoughts.
"Dear God…" She mumbled to no one in particular.
It was all Security.