Hmmm, it should be ready by now...I think. Zero thought with a frown as she looked to the boiling pot. She had been worried that regular Zvyr meat would be too tough for Jaire to handle thus she decided to dump it into a soup with whatever else she could find. Carrots, coffee beans, cucumbers, wheat grains, salt, a hint of alcohol, and the last of her bread, one by one these ingredients went into the pot until it bubbled ominously on her stove. It’s times like this that I wish I took those cooking classes Happy keeps offering...

With a wary hand, she spooned up some of the soup and drank it, causing her face to light up as it entered her mouth.

Wow! That’s not bad at all!...then again, I can’t tell the difference between raw and cooked, so maybe I shouldn’t be judging…

She continued to stir the pot with a sigh as the food within meshed together. Just then, she heard a shuffling sound from the other room. Hm? Is he up?

She set the spoon down and went to investigate, half wondering if perhaps getting take out would be better. Nah it’ll be fin- oh damn!!

Ahead of her was Jaire, who was in mid-fall as he stumbled off the bed. She reacted immediately, pressing down on the floor with enough strength to crack the wooden plank as she propelled forward.

“Whoa there!” She cried out as she caught Jaire before he cracked his head open, “Are you oka- h-hey stop that!”

Jaire clawed, kicked, and even bit at her in a blind rage even as she held him at bay with her right hand at his chest. Frowning, Zero gently pushed as she used her left hand to spin him by the shoulder. As he spun she latched her right hand down onto his left forearm while her other hand reached around and grabbed his right, forcing his arms to criss cross around his chest. From there, she gently tugged him backwards until he was resting against her chest and she slowly brought them down to the floor. He furiously struggled to break free but his child-like strength amounted to nothing.

As he continued to struggle, Zero shook her head and let out a tired sigh. It seems this was just a fluke, he’s gone feral again.

A pang of disappointment coursed through her as her hopes were crushed by the rabid boy. He had seemed normal earlier in the day, but the current behavior was reminiscent of the first days that he was in their care, which had been a nightmare to deal with.

When Doc and her first saw him, Jaire was berserk, striking at everything in his path with no regards for others or even his own safety. At one point he even rammed his head straight into a wall, and would have continued until his brains were splattered across the ruined building if not for her and Doc’s intervention. Back then he was brutishly strong as well, as not only did it take their combined efforts to subdue him but any restraints they placed on him were ripped off in minutes. That battle went on for almost an entire day until at long last exhaustion got the better of him. Thankfully, by the time he began to rampage again, his strength had drastically diminished and he stayed locked upon the table.

But that’s when the nightmare truly began. Zero thought as Jaire wildly kicked around and bit at thin air.

To their shock and horror (or fascination in Doc’s case), Jaire’s body began to break down right in front of their very eyes. His bones would snap, muscles peel away, and organs deflate as if an invisible needle had punctured them.

For two entire weeks Doc operated on Jaire, resetting bones and sewing things closed again, while Zero stood at the ready and helped in whatever way she could. Not an hour went by where Jaire would not be screaming in agony or convulsing upon the surgery table. Even gagged he still let out a gut wrenching wail until he choked on the blood soaked cloth. The entire time was hell, and she would often go full days without sleep, until at long last Jaire’s body ceased trying to tear itself open.

Zero sighed once more as she stared at the rabid boy. It had been ten minutes now and he showed no signs of stopping. Weak he may be, but it was worrying nonetheless. If this is a repeat from last time, I’m not sure he will be able to handle it. Hell I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it either...

Throughout that nightmare she had come close to breaking her oath plenty of times. Despite Doc’s insistence of keeping him alive, Zero just couldn’t bring herself to continue on and watch him suffer. It was just too pitiful seeing him like that, even more so when he began to weep in the last weeks of his coma. He would ramble nonsense in his sleep or weep in pain and fear. Her heart ached at his wails and she wanted nothing more than to end his suffering, yet she stayed her blade each time. Not only had she made an oath to Doc, but in one of Jaire’s ramblings he mentioned-

Jaire’s body went limp in her arms, snapping her back to the current moment. She sighed yet again. What’s done is done I suppose. Well, if he survives another round of torture then perhaps I’ll get the answers I seek. Otherwise- Hm?

“What was that?” She asked curiously. She thought she heard him speak, but the sound had been too low and guttural. hm, I’m just hearing things, he had never-

“Hungry…” He coughed out, “I’m so...hungry…”

Zero stared at him in disbelief. He had talked, but more importantly, Is he conscious? Is he not feral?? But then why was he attacking me?? How-

Jaire’s stomach grumbled loudly in front of her, snapping her out of her thoughts once more.

“Ah, right.” Still mildly shocked, Zero lifted them up from the ground. Slowly, and still unsure if this was a trick, she let go of his arms and instead held him by his sides. Rather than attack her, he wrapped his arms around his stomach as it grumbled once more. Definitely not feral at least.

Walking slowly as she tugged him along, she spoke to the trembling boy, “Okay, I’ll bring you the food now. Just sit when I tell you to and wait. Got it?”

Jaire vigorously nodded as they walked.

“Good. Now sit.” Seeing him struggle to sit at the chair, she waited for a few seconds to see how he would react. Saliva dripped from his mouth and he shook violently, but he remained seated. Gross. Okay maybe he is feral, but seems to be in a bit of control at least. Hm..

She kept her eye on him as she walked towards the kitchen. Once inside, she quickly hopped to the pot and began to serve a bowl of the mush. It had cooled down by then, but she hoped that perhaps that was for the best. Judging by his feral days, he might try to eat it all even if it was scalding hot.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

As she returned to the living room, she watched as Jaire sniffed at the air and salivate more at her approach. The moment she set the bowl down, he desperately clawed out for it until he found the bowl. As she had assumed, his face dove straight into the bowl and he slurped it up in a frenzy.

“More…” Jaire croaked out a few seconds later, the bowl completely empty beneath him.

Amazing, he devoured it like his life depended on it.

…

...am I a natural? Satisfaction creeped up within her as she took the empty bowl and happily returned to the kitchen. This cooking business is easier than I thought.

She returned with a second serving, which Jaire devoured just as quickly and asked for another. Oh yeah, definitely onto something here. Watch out Happy you got some competition now.

Finally, by the time he asked for the fifth serving, her resolve had steeled and she gave him a stern no. “Your stomach is still quite damaged, any more and you’ll overstuff it and burst the stitchings.”

“But...I need it.” He whined as he grabbed at his stomach. “I need...to feed it…I...I...”

*Thonk*

Jaire abruptly fell asleep right on the table, bowl still in his outstretched hand.

...what?

-------------------------------

“COCK-A-DOODLE DO!”

*BANG BANG BANG BANG*

“COCK-A-DOODLE DO!”

Jaire’s heart raced as he sat up. What the hell is that?!

He looked around in alarm, but saw only darkness. Somewhere in that darkness, the banging continued along with the terrible cry.

“COCK-A-DOO-”

“Cut that out!!” A female voice rang out over the sound of a door opening.

“Howdy neighbor! Do you have a moment to talk about our lo-”

The door slammed shut, leaving Jaire alone with his thoughts as the muffled mutterings continued beyond the door. It took another few seconds for him to calm down, and remember the situation he found himself in.

He groaned as he laid back down within the soft blanket. This blindness is going to take some getting used to. What time is it? How long have I been out?

He still felt exhausted, but much better than earlier and not as fatigued. The nap had been good for him, and he kind of wanted to go back to sleep, but a new sensation kept it away. His stomach felt hollow, as if a gnawing pit lay within it which yearned to be filled. Figures. I doubt they gave me anything in that month I was asleep, otherwise I wouldn’t be so skinny...He frowned as the thoughts brought to mind the taste in his mouth. Why is there a rancid taste in my mouth?? Is that what happens when-

“Jaire,” An irate voice rang out as the door creaked open, “you have some company.” Zero finished.

Company? Oh. It’s-

Just then a whistle blew out as the visitor entered the room. “How is it so fresh in here?? Were your parents builders or something? Mind checking my room out? I think its got too many holes to keep the heat out, not that I’m complaining though. Oh wow you really spruced this place up too! Fancy living ain’t ya~Ooh well look at that! Ya got yer very own- holy hell is that an actual table?! You’ve been holding out on us haven’t ya Z? Oh? Wait a sec, aren’t those h-”

“Are you gonna keep gawking at my stuff or do what you came to do?” Zero retorted.

“Mmmm right right, my bad~! *ahem* Good morning Jaire! Welcome back to the land of the living!”

“Hey Styx. Good I guess. Tired, but good.” And hungry...

“That’s great! Glad to hear it! You gave us quite a scare ya know?”

“Hmph,” Zero snorted, “Sure he did.”

“Oh hush, you coulda joined in too, but noooo somebody had ‘morals’ to follow...though from the looks of it you still hel-”

“That has nothing to do with it. I was there when he needed help and not-”

“Pshhh tomato potato, doesn’t excuse the fact that-”

“Uhh, excuse me?” Jaire cut in, “What are you guys talking about?

“Oh, right, I suppose you’re old enough. You see Jaire, when a man and a woman-”

“He,” Zero snapped, “had a pool going with the crew, betting to see if you would survive or not.”

“You were betting on me dying?”

“What? No, don’t be silly, I would never do that. I obviously put my money on you living, and not just because if I didn’t we’d have no one to bet in favor of you. You see, the others couldn’t see it but I knew from the moment I met ya that there was something special about you.”

No one thought I was going to live...ouch.

“Give me a break, you’ve said the same thing to dozens of others, myself included.”

“Annnd I’ve been right about once or twice thank you very much. Anyways, we weren’t really gonna collect, ‘tis was just a bit of fun between grumpy old men. No hard feelings yeah?”

“...” Despite Styx’s cheerful voice, Jaire couldn’t let it go just yet. I’d think that at least Mav would bet on my survival, he seemed nice enough...then again I don’t really know the guy...hell I don’t know any of them. I’ve been here a month but in reality it's only been a day and a half for me. Ugh...

“Riiiight. Welp, I just stopped by to congratulate you on our- *Ahem* your victory and present you with this. Ta-dah!”

“...I can’t see Styx…”

“Oh, right. Well it’s a bucket! Yup yup, I used all of my hard earned Qip to buy you your own bucket.”

A bucket. Indignation swelled up as he grit his teeth with a forced smile, “...thanks.” A bucket. He bet on my life, made money off of it, and ‘bought’ me a bucket. What. An. Ass.

Styx audibly sighed, which somewhat terrified Jaire as he remembered Styx was technically his commander and Jaire had just shown him disrespect. Yet it seemed as though he was mistaken as he heard Styx mumble to himself about how no one ever values the bucket. Finally Styx spoke to him again in a much more sour tone, “Also Mav is standing outside with some medical supplies and ingredients for food, which I also paid for mind you. Thank god you have a bucket to put them in...”

...couldn’t you have led with that?...is he really serious about the bucket? That wasn’t just a, Jaire sighed and shook his head to keep a headache from forming. “Thank you Styx. I really appreciate it, I’m just tired right now. Why is he standing outside? Shouldn’t he come in?”

“Wellllll,” Styx spoke out with his normal chipper tone, “that’s ‘cause I was only allowed in by using my power of authority. One of the perks of being the assistant manager.”

Zero huffed and began to speak but was quickly cut off by Styx.

“Yup! Assistant manager that’s me! So yeah, that’s that! Welp, I’ll be going now before I overstay my welcome. I bid you adieu Jaire, sayonara, goodbye, hasta la-”

“Out.” Zero groaned.

As the door opened, he heard Zero thank a person outside, presumably Maverick, before shutting the door again.

“Glad that’s over with,” She spoke as her voice trailed away, “Guess I’ll make some more of that delicious grub you love for breakfast, so sit tight Jaire.”

….what?