Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- Chr0me Where L0ve Sh0uld Be [W0lf; Cyberpunk, Prosthetics, Lewd]: Not everyone can be one of the high-paid heroes of the streets, but Anon manages to be a hero for someone who needs it most.
- [[CHAPTER 1: R0uga ]]
- >You are 4N0N
- >Data courier, milk runner, and occasional decoy
- >You get your off-the-books jobs from a network of spies, assassins, hackers…you name it
- >All thanks to your indispensible abilities
- >The most valuable of which is being completely indiscreet
- >You’ve all but waltzed into hostile territories because you’re so ignorable and non-menacing
- >You’ve also felt there’s little chance your employers will turn on you, considering they can barely remember your name
- >Then again, that just might be what they WANT you to think
- >Currently you’re in a chain of errands sending you all over the city
- >Get money from a hotel concierge, use it to buy a specific “gift” from a little old lady, deliver said “gift” to an office janitor…
- >There’s usually no negotiation required, as your contacts are so widely known (or rather, feared) that just name-dropping them is enough to get a client on your side
- >The power is honestly a little exhilarating
- >But even though you’re almost never in any real danger, you’re still prepared for the day you might get whacked by someone
- >Or left holding the bag like a patsy
- >So, you’re a little worried when you’re sent a package by a handler you’ve never met before and instructed to take it to a locked-down research lab
- >A lock you can only bypass by first going to a fast food joint and specifically getting the “Runner’s Sliders” that come in a “kid’s meal”
- >Like any youth ordering a kid’s meal, you’re more interested in the toy
- >It’s a bulky “Wreckball” card with some holographic rhino athlete on it
- >You peel the image off to reveal the keycard underneath
- >The research lab isn’t hard to find, but it’s been abandoned and derelict for so long nobody wants to go inside and get some kind of mutation or something
- >The credentials on the keycard work out, and the door slides open for you to wander the empty lab looking for any kind of dead drop
- >What you find in a room deep within the facility makes your heart stop
- >Bodies
- >Everywhere
- >Most have started decaying, while others are fresher
- >Some scientists, some gangsters, some that look like SWAT
- >Sitting at the end of the room is a figure unlike the rest, slumped over and distant from the rest of the bloodbath
- >You carefully move through the carnage until you’re a stone’s throw away from the lone figure
- >It’s a female anthro similar to a lupine…maybe…with a russet pelt and wearing pretty standard tactical gear
- >Her head snaps upright, revealing two bionic eyes of powder blue that glow brightly, though one is slightly dimmer and shows what looks to be a pupil
- >One of her pointed ears is entirely cybernetic while the other is just torn in places
- >The lower half of her muzzle is metal, as are her narrow ankles
- >If she had a tail, as most anthros do, it’s completely gone now
- >Her left arm is biotic and muscular, but the right one is something out of nightmares
- >It’s a vicious chrome apparatus, bent in more joints than what’s natural for an animal, and the “claws” are miniature scimitars with immaculate sharpness
- >”I’ll aff0rd y0u 0ne w0rd,” she says.
- >Her voice might have had a beautifully melodic quality if not for the distortion sounding like speaking through a radio
- >Inside a metal grate
- >Underwater
- >She flexes her metal claw and you return your focus to her declaration
- >If old action flicks taught you anything, it’s that your final word shouldn’t be something damning like, “wait”, or “stop”, or “please”
- >If she’s going to kill you, maybe she’ll have some kind of conscious if she knows your name
- >4N0N
- >Her claw relaxes, and she sticks out her good arm
- >”T0ss it here,” comes her next command in the same twisted manner
- >You obey
- >She catches the package and slices it open with her claw
- >”Turn ar0und. Y0u peek, y0u die.”
- >You obey
- >There’s clicking and whirring and the sickening grinding of metal, with grunts and gasps interspersed
- >You can hear her stand up and approach you
- >You expect her metal claw to touch you, or your innards, but not the gentle weight of her “real” paw on your shoulder
- >”Y0u sh0uld g0,” she says.
- >Even with the haunting voice mask, you can still pick up concern in her tone
- >She leaves the way you came, the only way out
- >You trail her at a distance, keeping your hands in sight to not provoke her
- >Once back at the sliding entrance door, she pauses
- >”Were y0u f0ll0wed?”
- >You begin to say “no”, but stop yourself
- >You may be ignored pretty often, but it’s always possible you’re being stalked
- >”At least y0u’re h0nest,” she says
- >Her claw digs into the door like paper, causing screams on the other side
- >She wrenches the door off its track and shoves it forward, bowling over more victims
- >Those were the lucky ones
- >You see her dance of death but not the ambushers getting torn to ribbons on flanking sides of the doorway
- >When she’s finished, she looks at you inquisitively
- >”Friends of y0urs?”
- >No
- >”G00d. Y0u have en0ugh insight to kn0w wh0 y0ur allies are, but n0t enough to make y0ur life a liability.”
- >She flicks the gore from her claw and turns to leave
- >”If I were y0u, I’d seek new empl0yment.”
- >You nod to yourself and continue following her
- >Part of you warns you not to go after her, but the other tells you not to hastily run off and make yourself easy prey
- >”R0uga, 4N0N,” she says to break the silence. “N0, there isn’t m0re y0u need to kn0w.”
- >Fine by you.
- >This whole city has enough shady, tragic backstories
- >The two of you walk through the neon-pulsing streets
- >Though intimidating, an anthro sporting some combat chrome isn’t entirely out of the question
- >That doesn’t stop a few gawkers, though
- >Her movement only halts in front of a boarded up theater
- >Its letters are scrambled and missing in several places, but several posters in decent condition are plastered on the walls
- >Valencia Vix
- >Tubby Whiskers
- >The Tomfoolery Twins
- >All wealthy, all talented, all gorgeous
- >R0uga growls
- >The claws flex and slice through the posters
- >Brick and all
- >A few passerby run off as R0uga is left to stew in her anger
- >”D0 y0u need m0ney?” she blurts out after a while
- >You ARE unemployed now, apparently
- >Those glowing eyes look through you, shaded by a furrowed brow
- >”I need….”
- >She tries to find a word
- >”…Supervis0n”
- >Her bionic eyes seem to work just fine, so-
- >Oh, THAT kind of supervision
- >”What d0 y0u want? F0ur grand? Seven? Nine!?”
- >Her voice becomes more hysteric with each number, and there’s subtle feedback ringing in it as she gets louder
- >You tell her you usually don’t take a job before you know all the criteria
- >She winces, and you get a taste of the serrated fangs she’s outfitted with
- >Well, you’re open to negotiations, anyway
- >”Please, c0me with me.”
- >You’re led to a dim apartment flat, the kind you always imaged those who run the shadows would squat in
- >It’s surprisingly well furnished, if you ignore the claw marks in the walls and all the furniture being bisected
- >You’re led into the bathroom, the brightest room in the place
- >The light coming down on the shower stall looks as though it’s presented by the gods
- >R0uga grabs her mechanical arm with her “good” one, pulling hard
- >A blood-curdling scream comes from her modulated throat
- >The arm pops free, leaving a small socket almost entirely hidden by her fur
- >”Never…gets easier…” she huffs”
- >The shower is kicked on and steam soon fills the room
- >It’s a little impressive how fluidly she disrobes with one arm, almost distracting you from her full nudity
- >You turn away, remembering her threat from the lab
- >”Y0u might as well, n0W,” she says. “Y0u’ll have t0 st0mach me anyway a little later.”
- >She steps into the shower as you examine her further
- >Her tail indeed looks as though it had been forcibly removed at some point, and ridges of metal follow her spine
- >But apart from the modifications you’ve already seen on her, she is otherwise a stunning individual
- >Downy russet fur
- >Toned thighs
- >And some weighty breasts that definitely aren’t “augmented”
- >She pushes against the tiled wall with her lone arm and lets the water drip over her
- >She’s motionless for almost half an hour
- >Showers and rain make everyone cry, but something tells you she’s genuine about it
- >Finally the water is shut off, and she grabs a towel
- >”W0uld y0u?” her voice warbles
- >You take the cloth and delicately dry her off
- >”I’m very damp,” she says. “Y0u’re g0ing t0 have t0 be m0re vig0r0us.”
- >The towel is so old and ratty that nothing is left to the imagination when you glide over her curves
- >Now you’re curious what that thing was you gave her, and where she stuck it
- >Not curious enough to ask, obviously
- >She walks out of the bathroom with the towel still draped around her
- >There’s a bed in the corner, enough room for her and the space she beckons you over to
- It’s hard not to look at her naked form, but whenever you avert her eyes she tries to position herself into your sight
- >”I repulse y0u,” she whines
- >You tell her you’re just trying to be polite
- >She wraps her arm around your head and buries it into her chest
- >”I’m still flesh and b0ne, I swear,” R0uga says, pulling you deeper into her bosom
- >There’s a soft droning sound inside, but you can feel her heartbeat all the same
- >She lets you catch some air, looking into your eyes
- >It’s a pitiful expression, and her cybernetic features on such a soft form make her look like a much-loved stuffed toy that was vainly repaired to prolong its life
- >You reach up to touch her muzzle, cupping the metal half with your palm but stroking the organic half with your fingers
- >It’s heartbreaking to hear such a deadly creature reduced to a whimpering wreck before you
- >Careful of her sharp fangs, you kiss the upper lips of her mouth, running down the whole length on both sides
- >Every touch and caress that would be simple foreplay for anyone else puts a disarming shiver throughout her body
- >She definitely doesn’t allow herself to be this vulnerable, ever
- >Now that you’ve made that fissure, she’s powerless to keep her body from betraying her
- >She deserves this, you tell yourself
- >You lower down to her tender vulva and spread it with your fingers
- >It takes only a single glide of your tongue to get her to cry out
- >Her one paw clenches your scalp, and even the shoulder on her empty side tenses up with its phantom limb
- >You give her a moment to recover before diving in for a more vigorous effort
- >Her legs wrap over your back, the metal in her ankles clinking together as they cross
- >And she convulses with her climax
- >You give her only a pause, then you're back at it
- >You get a pretty decent tally going of how many times you make her orgasm
- >And yet, she slowly builds up a tolerance, able to last a little longer each round
- >But eventually she’s had enough, feebly trying to keep you away
- >Her body spasms with strain and fatigue, her limbs splayed out over the bed
- >Her chest heaves with her panting, and her tongue lolls from her muzzle
- >”Ha…ha…” she tries to speak
- >You lie beside her, immediately pulled into her one-arm embrace
- >”H-ha…h0w…h0w much?”
- >Hmm?
- >You give her a confused look
- >”Y0ur payment. H0w much…d0 y0u want?”
- >The thought hadn’t even occurred to you
- >But as you lie with R0uga and drift to sleep, there’s only one thing you hope she’ll give you
- >The morning sun brightens the flat, showing you the full extent of R0uga’s loneliness and rage
- >”Careful,” she warns as you help her reattach her weaponized arm
- >She sharply inhales as you slot it in, eliciting a pained groan
- >”It takes time t0 feel the arm when it g0es in,” she says, “but taking it 0ut is like ripping y0ur arm 0ff all 0ver again.”
- >She’s once again the cybernetic lupine warrior you found her as
- >But maybe a little tougher this time
- >”I can’t pr0mise y0u safety in this kind of life, and the last thing I want is t0 put y0u in harm’s way. But….”
- >She places her good paw on your chest
- >”If I can always find y0u waiting f0r me here, I will give y0u everything I can.”
- >That’s all you need to hear
- >Nobody else’s voice would sound right to you anymore
- [[ CHAPTER 2: L0ve in a Gorge0us Dress ]]
- >4n0n the courier on another delivery
- >Your russet, cybernetic wolf companion R0uga is the client once again
- >Like last time, you have no idea what’s in the parcel
- >It’s a much larger box, though fairly light
- >Whatever it is, it’s cause for R0uga to threaten you for the first time since you met her
- >”D0n’t let it get damaged, n0 matter what y0u d0,” she warns you in that stern, modulated voice
- >Her glowing eyes and half-artificial muzzle don’t faze you in the slightest anymore, but disappointing a close friend?
- >A lover even?
- >That’s the biggest fear imaginable
- >You retrieved the objective in an alley half blocked by an inconspicuous truck
- >A horse with an excessive number of piercings and several data jacks along his neck handed you the container
- >”Be careful with this,” he muttered. “Just got an upgrade to my own package, if ya’ know what I mean, and I don’ want it ripped off if the goods don’ get to her in mint condition.”
- >Way too much information there, buddy
- >The box itself was from what you recognized to be a high-class, luxury apparel chain
- >Ah, maybe kind of like hiding a gun in a box of roses?
- >You’ve gotten a couple of those types of deliveries in your career
- >But it seemed a little dangerous to hide the objective in a container from such an expensive, reputable department store
- >Not that you can’t handle a few muggers, but R0uga is usually more conscious of things like that
- >When you return to the grungy little apartment the wolf’s eyes light up
- >Literally
- >But when you present the box she backs away
- >”Put it d0wn,” her voice warbles, “and help me take this 0ff first.”
- >She holds out her vicious, razor-equipped arm
- >You pull it from its shoulder socket, and the wolf screams in pain
- >It hasn’t gotten much less difficult to remove the augment, but you do believe there’s a tiny bit more ease to it
- >Not because of an increase of tolerance on R0uga’s part, but because you’re there to comfort her
- >Or so you like to think
- >As you set down the clawed weapon she snatches up the box with her good arm and shuts herself in the bathroom
- >Silence
- >Minutes go by
- >You hear faint ruffling, then a click
- >More silence
- >Then sobbing
- >You knock, but there’s no response
- >Worried, you open the door
- >Standing in front of the mirror is R0uga, wearing a beautiful strapless dress that flows down past her metal ankles
- >Inserted into her empty shoulder socket is a decorative corsage designed like a blooming flower or a firework’s explosion
- >A silky gorget is wrapped around her neck and several sparkling bands occupy her solo arm
- >Even with cyber eyes she manages to shed a few tears
- >The organic lip on the top half of her mouth quivers over the metal jaw beneath
- >She shifts her gaze to you in the reflection and gives a timid smile
- >You put your hands on the cyber wolf’s shoulders
- >Her throat makes a melodic whining sound
- >Her ears, both natural and prosthetic, fold back
- >’T-thank y0u, 4n0n.”
- >R0uga spends extra time cleaning herself up before the two of you head out for a night on the town
- >She keeps the hem of her dress pulled up slightly to keep it off the dirty concrete
- >If you covered up the manufactured pieces, she’d look like quite the well-groomed, aristocratic wolf
- >But it’s the whole bundle you love about her, flaws and all
- >You pass a familiar theater with the outside walls covered in posters
- >Each one advertising some gorgeous celebrity or performer
- >R0uga puffs her chest out to look dignified, but your gentle touch reminds her of whose judgment means the most
- >The fanciest club on this side of town is like a haven amidst the ghettos and ruins
- >The doorman gives R0uga a once-over, but you’re admitted in without a fuss as the wolf adds a little extra to the cover fee
- >Without a single drink or dance she already looks like she’s fulfilled her life’s biggest goal
- >Fitting in
- >She doesn’t even touch alcohol for a while, and her dancing is just a reserved bob of the head and slight leaning from side to side
- >She’s a pup at a prom, and you’re happy to be there with her
- >You eventually grab some refreshments and lounge at the bar
- >R0uga orders her drink with a straw
- >The bartender is a young human woman with the same neon, half-shaven haircut that no rebellious punk can be without these days
- >”Your girl’s outfitted pretty nicely there,” she says, flipping around a cocktail shaker
- >R0uga looks down to her dress with a grin
- >”Thank y0u.”
- >”Actually, I meant your chrome.”
- >R0uga’s luminous eyes go wide, and she chuckles shyly
- >You wrap an arm around her waist
- >There’s a subtle way she fidgets in her seat, as though she’d be wagging her tail furiously if she still had one
- >The night can’t go without a hitch, sadly
- >A small posse of boars and their boar-like human leader come stomping up to the bar
- >”Never thought you’d bother showing your ugly muzzle around a ritzy place like this, R0uga,” the leader snorts
- >He jabs you in the chest with his fat knuckles
- >”This your bitch for the night?”
- >”D0n’t y0u t0uch him!” she growls
- >You’re ready to grab a bottle to smash over his head if given the chance
- >Even the bartender reaches behind the counter for a little “backup” if the situation goes south
- >The thug sneers at the wolf
- >”Never mind the dress, you’re not so intimidating without that nasty claw of yours. Did ya’ leave it in your purse tonight?”
- >He reaches over and grabs a handful of the petals on her corsage
- >And she grabs his wrist
- >You hear the snapping of bone as the man wails in pain
- >”I d0n’t need it. I’m still str0nger than y0u.”
- >The wolf sweeps the man’s legs and uses the momentum to throw him against the bar
- >It leaves an impressive dent in the surface, but clearly outdone by the one on his head
- >The boar lackeys back off in fear
- >Several other clubbers look shocked and worried, though a few look relieved to have such an obnoxious brute taken out
- >R0uga looks to the bartender in shame
- >”I’m s0rry….”
- >The punkish girl takes out a tablecloth and wipes the spot the thug slammed into with a smirk
- >”I didn’t see shit.”
- >You and R0uga find a private, enclosed booth to get away from the crowd for a while
- >She strokes the damaged corsage as though it were a dying pet
- >It’s crumpled a bit and a few petals were torn out in the scuffle
- >”It wasn’t t00 cheap either,” she laughs morosely
- >You take her paw in your hands
- >You tell her you like it better this way
- >”D0 y0u…h0nestly mean it?”
- >Absolutely
- >The extravagant clothes aren’t who she is
- >Even the bartender appreciated the wolf for her imperfections
- >Now her clothes start to better match the rest of the rugged, asymmetrical look of the one-of-a-kind wolf you truly care for
- >”In that case, I supp0se I w0n’t need this dress n0w.”
- >R0uga takes the bottom of her dress and slowly rolls it up with her one arm
- >You think she’s going to stop at her legs, or even her thighs
- >But when she keeps going you see she wasn’t keeping anything hidden underneath
- >Her glistening lips, spared from the cyber-surgery that adorns other parts of her body, are swollen and inviting
- >She moves to where you’re sitting and relieves you of the painful growth being restricted by your pants
- >”Y0u have given me s0 much l0ve I can’t pay y0u back f0r. I want t0 change that.”
- >She eases down onto your lap, warming you with her lustful heat
- >R0uga certainly doesn’t need you to hold her up for support, but she leans into you nonetheless with her arm wrapped around your neck
- >She’s pressed up against you so closely you can hear the humming of her bionic insides
- >Her hips pump on your shaft, riding her dress up enough for you to reach in and stroke her back
- >Kissing is still a little too awkward for her, but you plant one on her furry muzzle and give her the attention she deserves
- >She doesn’t feel like a damaged, worn out creature
- >Rather, an experienced, well-loved queen
- >R0uga could break you in an instant, and there are some days you see the bad side of her
- >Well, YOU aren’t on the receiving end, but you don’t envy the souls of those who are
- >However, it’s moments like this that make you power through the dangers
- >Her growls are whirs and her squeaks are chirps, unafraid of how you’ll react to her noises
- >The bucking becomes fevered
- >Her tightness even more electrifying than you could dream of
- >Maybe she DID enhance something down there…
- >You reach your edge and her howling pushes you over with her
- >Your climax rings in you ears along with her voice and she brings the two of you down with a metallic coo
- >If you weren’t blinded by the stars of the afterglow, her piercing eyes do the trick as they shine directly into yours
- >When your vision returns, R0uga’s paw is reaching for your cheek
- >”4n0n…”
- >She leans in close to your ear
- >”I love you.”
- >The volume of her voice is so hushed you can’t hear the feedback or the modulation added to it
- >You think she’s doing it to please you, as though she were a regular wolf
- >You tell her to say it again
- >Not because you’re THAT conceited, but because you want to hear her words the way you love
- >”4n0n, I l0ve y000u!”
- >The only thing restrictive and out of place on your cybernetic wolf at this point is the dress
- >And it’s getting boxed up the second you get back to the apartment, right before you continue the passion well into the morning
- [[ CHAPTER 3: The G00d D0cter ]]
- >It’s a serene moment in your squalor of an apartment
- >Though your living conditions haven’t improved much since you moved in with R0uga, having her around is all you need most days
- >You get the sense she feels the same way about you
- >You’ve gotten a glimpse at how many credits the russet cyberwolf has stashed away, and it’s no small sum
- >But with how much tech and chrome she has to maintain, you can understand why she’d hoard her wealth for special circumstances
- >Such is the life of one who runs the shadows just to make ends meet
- >Still, she enjoys cheap comforts having little to do with being frugal
- >When the two of you return from a long or rough day—like getting jumped by a dozen tweaking gangers—she just wants to sit down with a nice box of Insta-Din
- >You even get it ready for her as she cleans off all the ganger blood
- >R0uga sits happily in front of the television, chomping away at her food
- >Watching college Wreckball intently
- >She’s a completely different person when she’s not out on the streets fighting for her life
- >When she isn’t outfitted with her razor-claw limb, she wears decorative prosthetic caps
- >Like the corsage she wore on your date
- >It’s incredible how dexterous she can be with just one good arm
- >In more ways than one
- >The weathered cyberwolf gives you a friendly smile
- >So much about her is flawed, but none of the well-groomed or cosmetically augmented anthros do anything for you
- >And what R0uga lacks in organic parts she makes up for with affection
- >Her glowing eyes close with blissful contentment, but they suddenly snap back open
- >In the brighter of the two eyes, a fleck of red flashes in the corner
- >No doubt some kind of HUD icon alerting her to something
- >Something that scares her
- >R0uga never shows fear, but now she’s shaking in her seat
- >You try to console her, but it just makes the shaking worse
- >Her voice warbles in its modulated way
- >”It’s alm0st time for r0utine maintenance,” she whines. “I have t0 g0 t0 the d0ct0r f0r a checkup and repairs.”
- >Well, fear of doctor visits is understandable
- >You can only imagine what they mean for someone like R0uga
- >”Please, 4n0n,” she says to you, “I d0n’t want to g0 al0ne. Will y0u c0me with me?”
- >You technically never stopped being hired by R0uga to be her supervisor
- >Her guardian and caretaker
- >In exchange for a place to live and a share of her credits, you’re obligated to assist her however she needs it
- >But all that is irrelevant when you would do anything she asks purely out of love
- >You’d never think to leave her, even if it means putting your life on the line for whatever mission she has to deal with
- >You give R0uga your promise to go along with her
- >Her shaking lessens
- >”Thank y0u…”
- >She looks glumly to her weaponized arm sitting in the corner of the room
- >Not exactly an eager look on her face as she removes the corsage and places it gingerly on the couch beside her
- >Even with the amount of wealth R0uga has, she still can’t afford top-of-the-line enhancements
- >Most of her augments help her perform better than any human by far, but the models are outdated and the wear on them is significant
- >Licensed medical facilities won’t even touch her at this point, no matter how much money she’d throw at them
- >When the world is steeped in litigation and red tape, your life exists in its own separate world
- >You’re effectively classless, even below wage slaves
- >Hell, it’s been ages since you’ve gone to a “formal” doctor yourself
- >It’s just too costly, and when you run the shadows not a lot of clinics will take your insurance card
- >Not your legal one, anyway…
- >So rather than get her gear at an authorized seller, R0uga has to settle for a more “independent” distributor
- >Skirting the city limits is a bar you’ve since grown to be familiar with
- >The Dive and Dunkle
- >True to its name, it’s the definition of a dive bar
- >Dark by intention, and by the character of its patrons to boot
- >R0uga takes you here from time to time, but it’s not for a few drinks this evening
- >The cyberwolf’s eyes glow especially bright in the dim ambiance
- >The two of you make your way to the bar counter, where a minotaur is scrubbing the inside of a glass with his littlest finger
- >”Little early for you to be drinking, R0uga,” the minotaur grumbles. “I expect you’re lookin’ for Snippet?”
- >The cyberwolf nods silently
- >”A’right.”
- >The minotaur leans in and lowers his voice to a bassy whisper
- >”It’s 1, 14, 15, 14 tonight. Inner, outer, outer, inner.”
- >R0uga nods again, then heads toward the very back of the bar
- >You follow her into a game room, where lumpy billiard tables and flickering arcade machines go unused
- >Along the far wall is an inconspicuous dartboard
- >To a seasoned hired hand like yourself, “inconspicuous” is the first place you look for something hidden
- >R0uga taps the spaces of the dartboard with her good arm
- >After putting in the sequence she presses the bull’s-eye
- >The wall swings open, leading to some downward stairs
- >Things like this rarely catch you off guard, but it’s a little surprising that R0uga has never taken you here before
- >Though if she’s not looking forward to whatever it is, then you’re not so sorry about being left in the dark
- >The two of you descend to an underground mall of sorts
- >Not very spacious, but packed with anything one would need for any kind of shadowy “service”
- >A wall of guns behind impenetrable glass
- >A drug store for heavily discounted pharmaceuticals
- >A forgery station for any document, physical or electronic
- >And finally, a clinic
- >Basically a glorified chop shop and secondhand augmentation fence
- >[The Doctor Is In], a small sign reads outside the door next to a waiting bench
- >You’re a little tense not knowing what’s in there
- >R0uga’s tense knowing exactly what’s in there
- >With a deep breath from both of you, you enter the doctor’s office
- >There’s no formal reception here, just a desk with nearby examination table
- >And a pretty heavily locked closet
- >Behind the desk is a homely looking female opossum, puffing away at an electronic cigar
- >She looks from R0uga to you, then back to her with little beetle eyes
- >”You came faster than usual, R0uga” she croaks. “Definitely didn’t think you’d show up tonight. I was just going to head home.”
- >”I have s0me0ne with me for m0ral supp0rt,” the cyberwolf says
- >The opossum’s eyes are back on you
- >”To…wait for you? You know I can’t let you have someone in here during the examination.”
- >”Please, Dr. Snippet,” R0uga says, “he w0n’t be any tr0uble. I give y0u my w0rd.”
- >The opossum takes one last draw of her cigar and sighs the smoke out
- >”Alright, fine. Up on the table with you.”
- >You pull up a chair next to R0uga while Snippet snaps some gloves on
- >The doctor grabs R0uga’s chrome arm near the shoulder
- >”You ready?” she coughs
- >R0uga’s other paw finds your hands
- >You clench it tightly with a quick kiss
- >”Three…two…one…”
- >The arm is wrenched out with a sickening jerk
- >R0uga howls in pain, but it’s a short-lived cry
- >Snippet looks shocked, nearly fumbling the arm as though it has a mind of its own
- >”You’re full of surprises today, girl,” she laughs in disbelief. “That’s the easiest I’ve ever seen you take it.”
- >The cyberwolf pants softly and looks to you with relief
- >She’s not wrong
- >Though it’s not a process she enjoys, R0uga gets better at handling the removal each time
- >”Alright, you’re going to have to strip down next, so you might want to ask your friend to—“
- >R0uga removes her clothes down to her underwear without hesitation
- >Snippet blinks in amusement
- >”So…you’re just for moral support, huh?” the opossum says to you
- >You continue to hold R0uga’s paw as the doctor begins the examination
- >She pokes and prods around R0uga, making verbal notes as she goes
- >”Heart rate nominal. The adrenaline dispenser battery has good life to it still. Spinal reinforcements decent…might need to pop this one back into alignment…a…bit…there!”
- >R0uga grunts through the procedure, but she doesn’t look to be in too much pain
- >”Cyber-optics looking fine, though it doesn’t look like there’s much I can do about the glow on this one. No effect on vision, though, from what I can tell.”
- >Snippet cleans out the wolf’s shoulder socket, checks her jaw for any loose screws, and calibrates the cybernetic ear
- >”Prosthetic arm connection looks a little stripped. Might have to get that changed out someday. Honestly, I wish you’d just get a regular arm instead of that hideous looking thing. I could get you a decent price on something thrice-used.”
- >The cyberwolf just shakes her head
- >”I’m fine with0ut anything in there when I’m n0t using it. 4n0n is my sec0nd arm.”
- >”Yeah, that much I got.”
- >Snippet grabs a tray after the examination is over
- >There are several needles and bottles arranged haphazardly on it
- >R0uga’s breathing gets faster
- >”You know the drill. Gotta get the fluids running well and the spots ‘round the chrome vaccinated. You, uh, may want to hold her still a while longer.”
- >R0uga’s paw is practically crushing your hand, but you stay strong for her sake
- >Her pelt is assaulted with shots and burning tinctures
- >It only takes a few minutes to apply everything, but time stretches on as you watch the wolf’s duress
- >Finally, the chrome arm is snapped back on
- >When the job’s all done, Snippet pats R0uga on the leg
- >”Maybe it was for the best to let your friend help out. You did an amazing job keeping your cool this time. I got to walk away without any slashes, too.”
- >R0uga looks at the opossum sheepishly
- >She gets dressed and hands over a credstick to the doctor
- >”You’re good to go. I’ll send a reminder for your next checkup as usual.”
- >The cyberwolf looks to Snippet expectantly
- >The opossum chuckles roughly
- >”Fine, you big baby.”
- >She digs through her desk and pulls out a stick of rock candy
- >R0uga munches away at it with glee as you both head back up to the bar
- >When you reach the apartment, R0uga looks a little woozy
- >”I feel s0 s0re every time I c0me h0me from that.”
- >Despite her condition, she still wants that arm out of her
- >The anesthetics make it a much simpler chore for both of you
- >You lead R0uga to the bed and ease her down
- >”I’ll have t0 rest a while…while the drugs w0rk thr0ugh my system.”
- >She went through a lot today, for sure
- >The least you can do now is make her feel comfortable
- >You massage her neck and shoulders
- >R0uga hums loudly as you work your fingers into her fur
- >Your thumbs travel downward and dig into the muscles opposite her metal spine
- >Then you return to her head and stroke her cheeks and the top of her muzzle
- >She’s in complete rapture
- >But there’s still one more spot to tend to
- >Her torn, organic ear
- >Ever since you’ve found her biggest weakness, it’s become her favorite spot for you to play with
- >You delicately rub the back of her ear and gently squeeze the folds
- >Your fingertips glide over the ridges, following the motion of the ear as she swivels it around
- >You even give it a playful bite with your lips
- >R0uga shudders with pleasure
- >Not every intimate moment with her needs to be sexual
- >Most of the time, this is more than enough for her
- >The parts of her not plated or screwed in are highly sensitive, but not in a harmful way
- >She needs this
- >Not just the attention, but also your devotion
- >”If I had g0tten the aut0-v0cals, I w0uld tell y0u h0w much I l0ve y0u 0ver and 0ver again…all night l0ng.”
- >She turns to face you and wraps her good arm around your body
- >Her strength allows her to give you the firmest, warmest hug you’ve ever had
- >”But I’ll say it anyway f0r as l0ng… as I stay awake…”
- >You lay her back against the pillows, then tuck her under the sheets
- >Only her smiling head is visible
- >”I l0ve y0u… I l0ve y0u… I l0ve y0u…4n0n…”
- >Just like she said, she repeats those words to you until fatigue lulls her to sleep
- >You give R0uga a kiss on the top of her muzzle
- >It’s probably going to be Insta-Din again when she wakes up, but you’ll be there to make it for her
- >With R0uga at peace, you join her under the covers
- >You clutch her paw and intertwine your fingers
- >You’ll be there for her
- [[ CHAPTER 4: G00dnight R0uga ]]
- >It’s been a long day for you and R0uga
- >Three separate jobs, and three deals that fell through
- >Go deliver a nondescript “special package” from Point A to Point B?
- >Well, gotta be intercepted by an interloping gang along the way
- >They weren’t even going after the correct target either
- >Go escort a young woman to a designated location and be her protection for the trip?
- >Well, you got roped into a quarrel between two rival street factions
- >Which meant twice as many casualties
- >Go to a gas station and simply tell the cashier he needs to come home early tonight?
- >Well, now someone’s going to have to clean up all the bloodstains in addition to the pools of soda and snack debris everywhere
- >You still don’t even know how that all escalated so quickly
- >In all three situations, it was the oxen gangers “The Meat Beaters” who were the antagonists
- >So after the third altercation, R0uga personally tracked down their ringleader and snapped both his horns off
- >You never saw where they ended up
- >And on top of everything else, it rained the entirety of the day
- >The two of you are dripping as you return to the apartment
- >R0uga starts screaming in her discordant, modulated wail
- >She normally does this after yanking her cyber arm out of its socket, but you can tell this is mainly out of frustration from the chaotic day
- >So when the arm is actually disconnected you can’t tell when the screaming from the physical pain starts and the emotional pain ends
- >Freed from her lethal augment, R0uga proceeds to strip herself down to nothing and toss her sopping clothes into a corner
- >”Rem0ve y0urs t00,” she commands. “We will sh0wer t0gether.”
- >Good way to save water
- >There’s not a lot of room to move around with the two of you sharing the shower, but there never needs to be
- >You’re pressed up against one another, washing the other’s back
- >The frigid rains are rinsed off so soothing heat can replace them
- >While you try to be gentle with R0uga to placate her, it has little effect
- >She’s still a little agitated from it all, scrubbing you aggressively without thinking
- >Your skin’s going to be pretty raw in the morning
- >But her stress swirls down the drain as you cleanse the unpleasantness out of her pelt
- >You’ve shared intimate moments together while bathing, but tonight it’s more of a typical routine
- >Something to be over and done with, much like the day
- >Perhaps R0uga wants to save the intimacy for bed?
- >Not likely
- >You’re guessing tonight isn’t going to progress very far beyond some cuddling
- >You’re both wiped out and sleep is priceless
- >R0uga’s long yawn sounds like a mix between a whale’s singing and the hum of a turbine
- >When you dry her fur off she sways in your arms
- >You have to physically keep her upright so she doesn’t pass out on the floor
- >”Race y0u t0 bed, 4n0n,” she mumbles, hanging onto your back as you shuffle out of the bathroom
- >If there’s one thing you make sure the derelict apartment always has when you leave for the morning, it’s clean, tidy sheets for when you return
- >It’s the least you can do to reward the two of you after whatever hardships the day throws your way
- >You lay the russet cyberwolf down and tuck her in
- >”Aaaaahhhhh-00000hhhhh…” R0uga croons as she tries to wiggle deeper into the mattress
- >She has an ensemble of noises she makes when she settles down for a particularly peaceful slumber
- >Little squeaks and buzzes
- >A howl or two that ends with a pop-like hiccup
- >The faintest rattle of her jaw as she inhales deeply, followed by a soft whistling as she sighs
- >It’s hard not to listen to the symphony and be amused
- >It was concerning and a little hard to get used to at first, but it’s something you’ve grown to expect and even appreciate
- >Any noise is good noise; it means you’re still alive
- >”4n0n, c0me to bed already,” she huffs
- >She tries scooting over to demonstrate there’s more than enough room for you, but she’s too tired to move much
- >”If y0u d0n’t get under here s00n, I w0n’t be awake l0ng en0ugh t0 tell y0u h0w much I l0ve y0u.”
- >Well, that’s motivation enough
- >You shut the lights off and slip under the sheets with her
- >”That’s m0re like it.”
- >Her good arm—her strong arm—wraps over you and pulls you tightly into her clean fur
- >You manage to get your own arm around her head so you can stroke her torn ear
- >Her cybernetic one folds into place and her eyes dim as they slowly close
- >L0ve y000uuu…” R0uga trails off
- >You give her ear attention for a little while before you drift off yourself
- >Did you even fall asleep, or where you only out for a few minutes?
- >You look to R0uga, whose glowing eyes are looking right back at you
- >Among all her nighttime noise, you hear another familiar one
- >The gurgling of her stomach
- >”We didn’t have an 0pp0rtunity to eat much t0day,” she laments
- >She tries to go back to sleep, but every rumble makes her shift around uncomfortably
- >”Maybe just a snack t0 tide me 0ver until m0rning.”
- >The cyberwolf rolls out of bed and scavenges through the kitchen
- >Her stash of Insta-Din is completely empty
- >As is much of the fridge
- >”We didn’t g0 get gr0ceries either,” she sighs
- >Maybe she should have grabbed some ox when she had the chance, you joke
- >”I kn0w…” R0uga says, a bit too seriously
- >She can be a little scary sometimes
- >”Maybe we can 0rder in f0r delivery?”
- >The only place crazy enough to deliver out here at this time at night is D’jammin’ Hut
- >And that’s only because they have armored vehicles
- >Not to mention it’ll practically be morning by the time they arrive
- >All that you can make is what you call “Terminal Sandwiches”
- >Basically any leftover condiments on top of crackers
- >Oh, and a single pack of dry noodles
- >So essentially one big cracker because of the way R0uga chomps into it without boiling the noodles first
- >It’s not a luxurious meal, but it’s enough to satiate her
- >”F0r n0w,” she says
- >She licks your face as you head back into bed
- >A little too much, maybe
- >When she nips your ear, then you get a little worried
- >”Y0u d0n’t need b0th 0f them,” she says with a hollow chuckle. “I g0t used t0 it.”
- >She smiles devilishly up until you fall asleep again
- >Several loud bangs jolt you awake
- >Nearby gangers, unsurprisingly
- >It’s a sad reality how close you live to their petty turf wars
- >On any other night, R0uga would eagerly pop her arm back in and go out to give them a deadly lesson
- >Tonight, however, she doesn’t want to put up with that shit
- >But it’s more than enough to wake her to a nasty mood
- >Her cyber ear stands up and her eyes flash with blinding anger
- >You try to comfort her, but she wrenches herself from your grip
- >Over to the window she goes, throwing it open and leaning outside
- >Without warning she lets out a deafening bellow that covers the entire neighborhood
- >And probably a good ways into the city
- >It’s enough to make your ears ring
- >The echo dies out, and you can hear the frightened shouts of the encroaching gangers as they scramble off
- >Even those who don’t know R0uga’s reputation know not to stick around when they hear her threats
- >The cyberwolf hangs her head long after the commotion dies down
- >”Idi0t…” she growls
- >She turns to you with a defeated look on her face
- >”My adrenaline dispenser went 0ff,” she whines.
- >Oh boy…
- >”I w0n’t be able t0 get t0 sleep…”
- >It’s happened a few times in the past, always triggered by some kind for combative response or high tension
- >For her, it’s like guzzling an entire pot of coffee right before bed
- >And you don’t have any sedatives to counter it
- >The only thing you can really do is ride it out
- >”Y0u sh0uld get s0me rest,” she says. “I w0n’t make any s0und.”
- >It wouldn’t be easy to sleep knowing R0uga’s so miserable
- >Or still hungry
- >So you tell her you’ll try to stay up with her as long as you can
- >Which might not be too long with how the day went
- >You start by helping her exercise a bit to help deplete that extra energy
- >It’s amazing how many one-paw pushups that cyberwolf can do
- >Even adding extra weight to her back doesn’t stop her from powering through dozens of sets
- >Unfortunately, it seems to make the situation worse
- >Now she’s hyperactive AND sore
- >Her arm quivers with strain
- >”H0w ab0ut s0me vide0 games next?”
- >That would have been a much better way to spend such a rainy, miserable day
- >All your more modern systems with sophisticated one-handed controllers have broken over the last few weeks
- >Ironically it’s just the ancient one-stick, one-button system you have left
- >R0uga’s pretty adept at maneuvering those with her fingers, though
- >Even using her toes if need be
- >You play games for about an hour with little success
- >The strain in her arm makes her accuracy shaky, putting her at a disadvantage
- >In turn, it just makes her get competitive
- >Resulting in making her more feisty
- >You have to stop her from breaking this system as well
- >Next she tries to calm down with some meditation
- >Deep breathing and stillness
- >Sitting rigid and droning deeply from her chest
- >With a body as busy as hers, you wouldn’t think she’s capable of ignoring her inner distractions
- >Quite the opposite, according to her
- >”It helped me get used t0 my b0dy after all the m0difications…” she says. “S0 n0w I barely n0tice them anym0re.”
- >The meditation only goes so far, however
- >Her cyber ear swivels at every little noise
- >And she fidgets relentlessly with the adrenaline still lingering
- >You try to massage her shoulders to remove the tension in her body
- >”Maybe we can bl0w 0ff s0me steam?” she coos
- >You know what she’s suggesting, but neither of you are really in the right condition to go at it
- >Just moving around is agonizing for her now after a day’s worth of struggles and countless pushups
- >The two of you just sit and watch TV for a while
- >Bobcat Roscoe’s painting show is pretty good for relaxation
- >It’s well into the witching hour when a yawn is finally coaxed out of the cyberwolf
- >”I think I’m ready…at l0ng last,” she says
- >What a relief
- >You support the cyberwolf’s weathered body back to the bed and tuck her in once more
- >You stroke her fur and give kisses where they’re needed
- >R0uga holds you tightly again, fighting off slumber longer than you do
- >”Please, rest. Y0u’ve d0ne all y0u can f0r me.”
- >She nuzzles your face with the top of her snout
- >”I l0ve y0u, 4n0n.”
- >Sleep finally takes you
- >It’s almost sunrise, but that means nothing when you plan on sleeping in to make up for a long night
- >R0uga finally found her own peace
- >But you soon hear whimpering from her
- >The leftover energy and the lack of sleep must be giving her some vivid dreams
- >Not good ones either
- >She clutches you painfully every few minutes, which is probably what woke you in the first place
- >It’s not uncommon for her dreams to be plagued with bad memories
- >You’ve delved into her psyche a few times in conversations, and it’s understandable what you’ve learned troubles her
- >The pain of multiple surgeries and shoddy treatments
- >The rejection and ostracizing from most “civilized” social groups
- >The carnage from endless battles with foes, even if the fighting was completely justified
- >That poor girl
- >Do you wake her and risk her being unable to fall back asleep?
- >Or do you shake the nightmares from her?
- >The discomfort of her claws on your chest urges you to do the latter
- >She twitches when you rouse her from her sleep, then grabs hold even tighter as she tries to figure out what’s happening
- >4n0n?” she says groggily
- >You reassure her, hoping she won’t be too mad
- >”N0…I was having r0tten dreams. Thank y0u f0r getting rid 0f them…”
- >You ask how she feels
- >”Still very w0rn 0ut…”
- >You let R0uga know she’s free to sleep as much as she needs
- >It might even be a good opportunity to run out and stock up on food
- >”N0,” she says firmly, holding you down
- >She splays her body over you heavily
- >Her neck fur nearly suffocates you as she pins your head to the pillow
- >”Y0u are tired, t00,” she says matter-of-factly. “We will g0 0ut t0gether when we’re ready.”
- >She’s doing all she can to make you sink into the mattress
- >It almost makes you think she’s not as tired as she says anymore
- >But instead making up for lost time
- >Whatever she wants, you suppose
- >She got you through all the mess yesterday, so it’s only fair to repay her
- >Even though it’s still kind of difficult to breathe this way…
- >You try to shift R0uga over to the side, but she won’t budge
- >She just makes the fakest snoring imaginable
- >You stroke her back and comb through her fur with your fingers
- >Hoping to find some kind of safety latch to save yourself
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment