I don't know you, sorry, I guess.
Leo didn’t know how long he had been laying here and he didn’t want to know.
All he knew is that there was someone here with him, and they were warm, everytime the warmth left him he felt colder, his pain had numbed but the cold remained in a taunting
‘fuck you’ kind of way.
The world melted away, leaving Leo alone with his, now numbing pain, and this stranger who was kind enough to comfort him through his agony.
Leo didn’t know how much he had missed the feeling of someone else’s touch, it was something he didn’t know he craved, causing him to suffer in an unknowing silence.
A soft clicking sound followed by a clank rang through Leo’s ears, he felt ‘fresh’ air touch his beak and the restraints lighten, Leo’s eyes fluttered and for the first time in a while, Leo could see where he was.
He didn’t recognise anything, but he now realised he was laying on the cold metal floor of an enclosed jail cell, no bars, instead a large door with a thin slit near the top, probably so the guard could check on them. Leo let his eyes travel, the room really did look like a jail cell, the same metal pattern decorated the floor and walls and two thin and flat japanese cots laid in each corner.
Leo had managed to twist his body around with a whimper, and to his slight horror and surprise, Leo was met with a paw, not a hand, but a paw.
On instinct, Leo recoiled, his gaze drifted upwards, following the paw to meet a durry arm, then a furry shoulder and finally to a face; a rabbit’s face.
Leo scrambled backwards, his shell pressing against one of the cold walls, Leo put his weight on his wrist and yelped out in pain, he cradled his arms close to his chest and pulled his knees up to protect him from the strange mutant.
“Who-who a-are you-u?” Leo’s voice was raspy in a way that made it painful to speak, most likely from the lack of use, like spending 5 months only saying a couple of words a day to a capybara was any better. The stranger looked at him with concern, his hand instinctively reaching out every time Leo dared to make a sound, Leo scoffed, he didn’t need this rag wearing tranger’s pity, nor did he want it.
The stranger’s long rabbit ears twitched and they cleared their throat,
“My name is Miyamoto Usagi but I ask you call me Usagi, and you are in the seek, it is where you will be staying from now on” Usagi’s voice was laced with a japanese accent and sincerity, which peaked Leo’s curiosity.
“The s-eek?” Leo’s voice cracked causing him to cringe.
Usagi paid no mind to it and nodded “The seek; Science, Experimentation and Entertainment Control Center, The SEEK, pretty uncreative if you ask me, I would’ve named it ‘The Underdome’ or ‘The Undercity’ or just- something more creative like that… Sorry, I haven’t had anyone to chat with in a while, what is your name?”
Leo hesitated for a moment “L-Leonardo… Call me Leo.”
Usagi took his new cellmate’s name in with a hum, “If you don’t mind me asking,” Leo continued, regaining some control over his vocal cords “How did you get m-mutated?”
Usagi stared at him confused “I’m sorry, did you say mutated? I’ve always been this way.” Leo shook his head “No I mean that you were a normal rabbit before, right? How did the people that made you get the mutagen recipe?” Leo clarified.
The rabbit’s frown deepened “Is that what you are? A mutant?” Usagu questioned, and Leo nodded shily, Usagi glanced at the floor before mumbling to himself “Well- I mean, at least you’re not a kappa..”
“A what?”
“Nothing! Don’t worry about it.” He reassured the turtle. “Anyways, I’m a Yokai, do you- do you know what that is?”
Leo nodded hesitantly “I’ve h-heard stories from my Dad as a kid, I thought they were a myth, like Japanese folklore… But apparently n-not.”
Usagi giggled, making Leo feel strange.
“Well, he was right about the Japanese part.” Usagi’s smile reassured Leo enough for him to unravel himself from his turtle shaped cocoon. “And you?” Usagi asked Leo once more, Leo’s eyes darted around the room, slightly panicked. “Oh! Sorry, I don’t mean to pry.. I’ve just been a bit lonely for a while and I guess I got ahead of myself, again.”
“No, it’s o-okay. I’m actually from New York but I got sent to Brazil by my stupid Father.” Leo scoffed.
Usagi looked at him confused “Sorry, I was under the impression that you liked your Father? Correct me if I’m wrong though.” Wow, Usagi really knew how to keep a conversation going.
“I don’t really want to talk about this with someone I just met, no offense.” Leo stated bluntly.
Leo attempted to stifle a yawn though the now more open muzzle making it difficult to move his jaw correctly. The turtle eyed the cot hopefully and tried to move, only to bite back a pained groan.
The rabbit had to physically stop himself from basically jumping on Leo to help “D-do you need some help? I wouldn’t mind if you-”
“I-I’m fine.” Leo interrupted the rabbit, forcing himself to keep some of his dignity and he dragged himself over to the cot.
As soon as his head hits the, not so soft, fabric. Pain or not, Leo was out cold.