You woke up, groggy, and feeling a banging pain worse than yesterday, nausea was hitting you harder than a car as you tried to get up properly, and another wave of dizziness hit you again

"Maybe I should call in sick?" You asked yourself, getting up slowly and breathing a little heavy, blinking slightly as you forced yourself to close the windows and stumbling a little to the bathroom, almost smacking the door onto your face as you tried to open it

"... F- fuc...k" you cursed as you leaned on the bathroom sink, staring at yourself for a moment,

"Yeah... No, I can do this, lest I stay overnight again" you murmured, you can do this

A few minutes later you are now draining your sink and putting soap all over it to remove the disgusting smell of your own vomit, you don't even know how you vomited when you didn't even eat yet.

Could it be from the blow from when you were hit? You asked yourself as you caressed the back of your head slowly, you could feel a bump and a tingling of pain

"It's probably just from the bump" you argued with yourself as you decided to take a bath after drooling on your shit during your dry heaving

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Getting dressed was kind of a pain, so was showering (though the latter was more of you wanting to stay in the cold forever), that day, the color code for the short was dark blue, remembering you left your coat in the factory you hissed a breathe of already coming exhaustion, not trusting yourself to drive (again for the 2nd time that week) so you took the bus

It would take around 26 minutes for you to get to the front of the forest that hides the factory within its tapestries of shadows due to well, for some reason the bus was PACKED, was it a special day or something? Why are there a lot of people here, and unfortunately, seats were not an option currently

"Should've taken the train" you said to yourself which earned a glance

'Mind your own business will you?! '

Huffing at the small shift of violence in your brain you patted your pocket for your headphones, something to block the chatter into the bus

The feeling was flat, there was no curve that indicates you brought what you required

You groaned which earned a stare from someone on the seats where you glared at them, you're tired as shit you don't need judgement right now as you held onto one of the bus's bars and leaned your head on your hanging arm, headache worsening a bit, the only snack you hot on the way was just some churros from a store near the bus stop, and you wanted to save it for later lest you throw up again, in a bus no less, god have mercy on you that would be embarrassing

The bus stopped as you swayed to the side and lifted up your head from your arm, seeing some metal gate with a lush green forest behind it as you brought your head back down when the bus started moving again

Wait... Forest

Shit!

You didn't notice you said it out loud too as a woman gasped beside of you, who stood up ready for a confrontation when you yelled for the bus to stop

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That was an embarrassment as you walked to the forest, letting your legs take you to your destination,

First, you earned dirty looks from the people who woke up from their slumber due to your panic, the bus driver, a kindly stereotypical looking old man gave a stare as he jumped and stopped the bus which sent some passengers forward and the ones left sleeping also woke,

And to top the cake off with a cherry is that the woman was also your stereotypical 'make-trouble-for-no-reason' Karen lady who bitched about your language, and even if you tried to reason that you might get late she won't let you off for such language, and about how yada yada

If it weren't for the bus driver coughing awkwardly you would've pushed the woman to the pits of the bus's small set of stairs because her yelling make your headache to a migraine

Speaking of headaches, it was getting worse, maybe you did need to go back home? Nah, after that confrontation it wouldn't make the start of your day worth it

Lost in thought for a moment as you pulled out your phone you failed to see you were already on the secret passage of a door, only realizing it when you fell through

|•|•|•|•|•|•|

That was embarrassment part two when you fell and just stayed on the ground, prompting the few guards to ask if you were doing alright in which you replied
"I'm dead inside"

You earned a few grimaces and looks of pity, but you did get up eventually

Into your office you went, where your lab coat sat, in the chair, thrown carelessly from yesterday as you placed your bag under the table and sat for a moment, dizziness settling in from the open windows as you got up with a grumble to close the blinds and went back to your chair

You need a nap, you knew it, you were tired, and a little hungry

Picking up your bag and taking the wrapped snack you got up to start some work, do some scheduling for Dr. Darling and-

*ding*

Your PC chirped as you turned it on, a message from the factory owner

Do some check-up on the new subject, note any allergies or anything worth noting

I'm not in the factory today so I'm leaving you in charge

Wow, he didn't even message your phone and just said it through email on your work PC, nice very nice

It was also when you realized you didn't have your phone

Brushing some of your hair back, you got your coat and ID then went to use the elevator to the underground, better to finish the easiest task

As you, Walden's trusted assistant, enter the research facility, the sterile atmosphere immediately envelops you. Making your way to Aqua's containment area, you pass through the airlock door, the sound of its mechanisms echoing in the otherwise silent corridor.

Pulling out your tablet, you begin the routine check-up, tapping away at the screen to access Aqua's medical records and vital signs. Despite Aqua's docile nature, you remain cautious, aware of the potential complexities of his unique physiology.

"Alright, Aqua, let's start with your vitals," you say calmly, your voice echoing from outside to the quiet room. Aqua glances up, alarmed at first but relaxed, his aquamarine eyes meeting yours with a curious tilt of his head.

As you proceed with the examination, you note Aqua's steady heartbeat and regulated breathing, a reassuring sign of his overall health. Checking for any abnormalities or signs of distress, you meticulously monitor Aqua's physical condition, ensuring his well-being is maintained. All monitored by the collar around his neck and a bracelet on his wrist that focuses on pulse

"Everything looks stable, Aqua," you remark, offering a reassuring smile through the glass barrier. Aqua responds with a small nod, his fluffy ears twitching in acknowledgment.

Making your way to Aqua's containment area, you press the entry code and step through the heavy door, the sound of the lock clicking behind you.

You note the subtle twitch of his bunny ears as he acknowledges your presence again, he still doesn't speak, you thought at first that he may be mute but with way he makes small sounds at times and even yelped one time when Dr. Flowera dragged him to the transport vehicle makes you note that maybe he a voluntarily mute instead

You set your tablet down on a nearby table and gather the necessary equipment for the check-up. Sterile gloves in place, you carefully draw a small amount of blood from Aqua's arm, his expression remaining calm throughout the procedure.

As you work, you take the opportunity to inspect Aqua's physical condition more closely. His bunny ears twitch intermittently,  Despite his humanoid form, Aqua's rabbit-like features are evident, from the soft pads on his feet to the delicate beans that mark his paws.

Heh, Beans

Once the blood sample is collected, you move on to other tests, checking Aqua's reflexes, muscle tone, and overall mobility. Despite his whimsical demeanor, Aqua displays some surprising physical strength, remembering the way he had kicked a car's locked door open and made it go flying

After completing the physical examination, you return to your tablet to review Aqua's medical records and vital signs. Everything appears within normal parameters, reassuring you of Aqua's continued well-being.

"Thanks," you say softly, reaching out to stroke his long, colorless hair.

Aqua remains calm throughout, his trust in you evident as you work.

After completing the physical assessment, you move on to the more technical aspects of the check-up. Using specialized equipment, you measure Aqua's vital signs, monitoring his heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. Everything appears within normal parameters, a reassuring sign of his overall health.

You notice something different about him then, His once long, colorless and slightly gray hair now hangs just past his shoulders when it was down past his waist, its thickness noticeably reduced, looking a lot whiter. It appears neatly trimmed and cleaned, the ends forming a tidy line around his neck.

You brushed your hand on the low ponytail on his hair

It seems Solaria took the initiative to give Aqua a haircut, perhaps in an effort to maintain his hygiene and appearance.

"Nice haircut, Aqua," you remark with a smile, impressed by Solaria's attention to detail. Aqua responds with a small nod, his ears twitching in acknowledgment, a soft thud of a tail against the bed was heard several times

Continuing with the check-up, you proceed with the examination, noting any changes in Aqua's physical condition. His health remains stable, his vital signs within normal parameters.

You completed the check-up, you make a mental note to thank Solaria for his assistance.

With the examination finished, you bid Aqua farewell, promising to return soon, you hoped it wasn't on the circumstances of torture really

Heh, maybe the day won't be that bad

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

You were wrong, oh so wrong

It wasn't even after half an hour, maybe it was the calm atmosphere of the room earlier, the dim lights, maybe it was the quietness of it all

But it was gone now, surrounded by metal machinery and bright lights

With each passing moment, the nausea intensifies, a sickening sensation churning in the pit of your stomach. You barely make it to the bathroom before the overwhelming urge to vomit consumes you. Collapsing to your knees in front of the toilet, you retch violently, your body convulsing with each heave.

Minutes pass in a haze of discomfort and distress as you struggle to regain control of your senses. The room spins around you, the sounds of your own retching echoing in your ears. Tears prickle at the corners of your eyes as you succumb to the overwhelming sensation of illness.

Finally, the nausea begins to subside, leaving you drained and weak on the bathroom floor. Taking slow, shallow breaths, you try to steady yourself, clinging to the cool tile beneath you for support. The aftermath of the concussion now rearing its ugly head more and more as you blow your nose unto a tissue from when your eyes teared up

Gathering your strength, you slowly push yourself upright, using the sink for leverage as you steady yourself. Despite the lingering dizziness, you know you must press on, your responsibilities as Darling's assistant calling you back to duty, washing out your mouth to rid of the bitter taste.

Maybe this thing was worse than a slight headache,

Munching on the churro absentmindedly now, you fought the slight urge to throw it up too

Despite the lingering effects of the concussion, you steel yourself and push through the day. Each step feels like a Herculean effort, the world around you spinning and swaying with each movement.

As you navigate the halls and corridors of the research facility, you can't shake the annoying ache in your head, a relentless throb that intensifies with each moment. The nausea threatens to slam onto you like a freight train,  it hurts, and you feel like you pooped a blood vessel.

Struggling to maintain your composure, you focus all your energy on the tasks at hand, willing yourself to ignore the worrying symptoms that threaten to overwhelm you. With each meeting with some workers, you force a smile onto your face, masking the pain and discomfort that gnaws at your senses.

God where the  fuck  is Walden???

Time blurs together in a haze of exhaustion and agony as you press on, your determination the only thing driving you forward. Every passing minute feels like an eternity, each second a battle against the relentless onslaught of symptoms that threaten to consume you, throwing up and dry heaving at times

But despite the odds and being at the edge of your consciousness, you tried to stay upright,even taking a pain killer. With gritted teeth, and sheer power of not giving a care about yourself.

As the day wears on, the concussion only seems to worsen, your vision swimming and your thoughts growing increasingly muddled. With each passing minutes, everything around you fades further into a blur of pain and confusion.

But even as your strength wanes and your body rebels against you, you press on, a stupid decision really.

As you struggle to make your way to one of the offices, your vision blurring and your steps faltering, the world around you begins to spin faster and faster. Despite your best efforts to stay upright, your legs give out beneath you, and you collapse to the ground in a heap.

The sounds of the facility fade into a distant echo as darkness creeps in at the edges of your vision. Your head pounds with agonizing intensity, each heartbeat reverberating through your skull like a thunderous drum.

With a final, desperate gasp for air, you succumb to the overwhelming fatigue, your consciousness slipping away into the void. The office door looms tantalizingly close, but it might as well be miles away as unconsciousness claims you, seeing a pair of shoes appear as the door creaks open, and a shocked step back with it

For how long you remain in that state, you cannot say.

You struggle to collect your thoughts and make sense of what is happening now at the present, the events of the day come flooding back with painful clarity. Despite your best efforts to push on, the concussion proved too much to bear, leading to your sudden collapse.

You're stupid at times but you won't admit you have to take care of yourself