Chapter Text
He lay under the flimsy cardboard barrier that protected him from the rain. It was a bad day today. His bones creaked and stretched against his body. His skin burned, like something was trying to scorch its way out. His head pounded and his eyes throbbed every time he opened them. Waves of misery sloughed off him, and he did his best to send them into the clouds. Unwilling to let anyone feel this pain.
But he felt it, he felt the pain rising from the depths of his core. It's been like this for as long as he could remember. Some days he could walk, could pretend that he was nothing but a normal human. And others… Other days are this, days of no movement and pain. He could hear the sounds of the city around him. The heavy rain poured down unrelentingly. Shouts of street vendors and cars zooming by cushioned his consciousness from sleep.
Bit was thankfully shielded well from the downpour. Under a makeshift shelter of cardboard and tarp, hidden behind a dumpster and far below the overhang of a monolithic Megabuilding. It wasn’t the best place in Night City to lay prone in pain, but it was by far not the worst. The pain was so great, Bit honestly wondered to himself if it would ever go away this time. He shivered as he curled further into the jacket he’d managed to swipe from a vendor in japantown. It was one of the few things he actually owned.
The day before he’d gathered his few belongings and booked it to where he felt safe. Here, beneath the shadow of the megabuilding in City Center. He’d quickly constructed his shelter the night before, feeling an episode of pain approaching fast. He couldn’t tell you why he knew he’d be safe. He only knew that here, for at least a little while, safety would find him. He blamed the names. The names he’d carried since childhood, dancing in his mind. Sometimes the names were clearer, sometimes they were distant and muffled. The clearer the names, the safer he’d be.
Dren and Taloch, those were the names that promised safety. For the first time, they were both so close and so clear. Bit simply knew that he could rest for at least a little while. But still he forced the misery up, refusing to properly rest while his emotions continued to radiate from him. He couldn't let others feel this. So he hid, and hurt, and wept.
Hours passed, and Bit though he heard heavy footfalls nearby. His eyes still hurt too much to stay open for long. Still, he chanced a peak through the small opening of his shelter. Two absolutely huge men were looking around the alley. One was a large bellied orc with toxic green skin and a cyberware leg. His red hair braided in a faux mohawk. His two tusks jut out of his mouth capped with gold ornaments. The other was a tall minotaur, his horns replaced with some kind of cyberware that Bit didn’t recognize. The hands of the man were tanned but his furred head was pitch black. Both wore fashionable suits that Bit had seen Corpos wearing all too often. Though they’d now been absolutely soaked by the rain.
Bit whined and shut his eyes again, aching hands coming up to rub at the throbbing sensation behind them. He faintly hoped that the pair hadn’t heard his quiet keening, but that hope was soon dashed. Heavy footfalls (and hoof falls) quickly made their way over to him. He hoped that they wouldn’t beat him. Or call NCPD. Last time they’d been so rough with him, he hadn’t been able to stand for days. The tarp shielding him from view was gently moved aside. Bit counted his blessing that they didn’t seem too angry. After all, they hadn’t just torn the shelter away with him still inside.
“Shit.” A gruff voice rumbled out above him. Bit keened at the abrasive sound as he curled further under his thin jacket. “Shit ok I’m jackin’ in, call for a Delemain, babe.” The voice said in a hushed tone. He heard the click of the man’s jack and felt it plug into his neural port. Bit’s only cyberware was his neuro processing tech and his jack. He was forced to get them when he was younger, to see if that could manage his pain. It couldn’t. He could feel a diagnostic being run. It scared him. The man put a hand to his forehead, before moving to pet Bit’s greasy hair. Shushing him as the diagnostic finished. Bit hadn’t realized he’d been crying.
“No fever,” the man whispered, “and no viruses. Little guy barely has any implants.” Bit chanced another peek, and saw the orc kneeling down beside him Ruining the nice slacks he wore. He was retracting his jack into his wrist, looking back at the minotaur. He was pacing back and forth, his dark eyes glowing electric blue. They flickered back to normal as he glanced over.
“Cab’s on the way.” He said, voice far deeper and smoother than the orc’s. He strode over and leaned down as well, taking stock of Bit’s little hideaway. “We’re taking him to Tuck’s. Regular doc would throw him out.” He whispered to the orc. The orc nodded in return, looking down at Bit. His hazel eyes brightened at the sight of Bit’s own violet eyes cracking open.
“Hey there, can you tell me your name?” He whispered, still carding his thick, clawed, fingers through Bit’s hair. Bit whimpered, his eyes sliding shut again against the stabbing pain of the light. The orc shushed him again, moving to lightly massage the human’s temples. “The projections he’s giving off can’t be helping him.” the orc whispered, presumably to his companion who gave a deem grunt in response.
“Only reason we found him.” The bull rumbled, his own hands reaching over Bit and gathering up the few items hidden behind him. Bit’s panic spiked, attempting to move but the pain stopped him in his tracks. The minotaur stopped and in a gentle voice whispered to the prone human. “It’s alright. I thought you’d want these. They seem important.” Bit peeked up through his eyelashes to see his precious few belongings being carefully held by the massive man. Behind him, a car pulled up, its doors opening as if on command. A distinguished voice piped up alerting them to the car’s arrival.
“Alright, just hang onto me for a minute, ok?” The orc said, hands carefully moving to scoop Bit into his arms. Bit didn’t have the energy to protest, he simply stiffened against the orc’s form. Quickly, he made his way to the car, settling Bit into the back seat. The minotaur made his way to the other side, climbing in as the orc whispered to the cab to try and be as quiet as it could. Bit felt his legs being settled into the minotaur’s lap while the rest of him lay on the orc’s. Their combined bulk eclipsed the back seat entirely.
The pair fidgeted above him, somewhat desperately. Then, warmth enveloped him. Their suit jackets, still somehow dry on the insides, now covered Bit’s shivering form. He could smell them now, a comforting scent of masculinity enveloped him. The orc continued to pet his hair as the minotaur spoke softly on a call. Telling someone that they wouldn’t be there today. He felt the minotaur lean over to whisper to the orc.
“I told Skips that we were busy, so we have all day to deal with this, Dren.” he said. Bit’s breath hitched. His body stiffening, a strange hitching feeling he didn’t understand bubbling in his chest. The orc seemed to perk up, making Bit realize that he was still projecting his emotions out. The orc’s gruff voice gave a relieved sigh.
“Think he’s starting to get that we’re tryin’ ta help, Taloch.” the orc, Dren , whispered back. Bit’s body sagged in relief, a weight he never knew he had been flung from him. He curled closer into the pair, his face buried in the folds of Dren’s shirt. Talach’s calloused hands reached down to rub at Bit’s chilled ankle. The quiet, the soft pattering of the rain on the roof of the car, the gentle touches and warmth. Bit finally found himself slipping into darkness. The only thing he felt was safe safe safe safe safe safe SAFE.
Consciousness returned to him slowly. Bit struggled against it as he felt the pain crash into him again. Though now lessened by some degree. He was able to stir, and open his eyes in the dimly lit room. The room was dark, only illuminated by a few colorful lamps. They slowly shifted between colors and released vapor that smelled of lavender.
Bit looked down to see himself lying in a reclined chair, a blanket over him. He could feel a jack plugged into his neural port. A spike of panic washed through him. As if on command, a voice piped up from behind him.
“Shit, you weren’t kidding.” It said, faintly garbled by cyberware, “empathic projection. That ain’t gonna help none.” The sound of wheels rolling towards him preluded the appearance of a heavily augmented man. His eyes were replaced by goggles that adjusted and zoomed of their own accord. His legs and arms were completely replaced by prosthetics, seemingly made for fine detail work. The man left his chair and strode over to a lavish cabinet. Inside were accessories and trinkets of all kinds. Bracelets, bangles, chokers, rings, and more. After a few minutes of deliberation, the man plucked a lavish collar from where it was displayed.
Fear crept up Bit’s spine, and he didn’t have the energy to reign it in. A heavy hand fell to his shoulder. Bit sluggish looked up to Taloch giving him a reassuring smile. The minotaur shifted his gaze to the man, clearing his throat.
“What exactly is that, Tuck?” He asked. His hand rubbing soothing circles against Bit’s shoulder.
“Right, sorry.” the man, Tuck, responded. His goggled gaze landed on Bit as he explained slowly and deliberately. “This is an empathic field dampener. The way you’re projecting right now has no control. It’s draining you before you can rest. Gotta put a stopper on it so you can get some energy back.” He said, motioning to the collar. Bit let out a breath and gave a shaky nod. Tuck slowly approached, slipping the collar around Bit’s neck and latching it in place. The outside was a deep black with circuits running through it, while the inner surface was lined with soft faux fur.
The ripperdoc readjusted the thing, bringing the side with a metal ring to the front and pressing a button near the back. Bit felt a slight humming sensation for a moment before he suddenly sagged in relief. Taloch and Dren’s hands quickly moved to steady him back into the chair. He felt the change instantly, his emotions no longer drowning the room.
“There we go, that should help.” Tuck said, turning to a screen nearby that seemed to display vitals that Bit didn’t understand. “Oh yeah, looks like he was projecting those emotions with absolutely no way to stop besides being passed out.” Tuck turned to the trio, goggled clicking and readjusting. “That wasn’t restful snoozin earlier, that was a proper exhaustion fueled faint. Should be able to actually recover and sleep with that on.”
Bit knew he should probably try to communicate somehow, but with the pain receding somewhat and the sudden release of the pressure that seemed to always be there. He was just so tired. His eyes were fluttering shut. Just as he felt himself slipping, Dren’s voice cut through his daze.
“Hey, gotta stay awake for a little bit longer.” The orc said, almost regretfully, “Doc’s gotta run a few tests before you sleep.” Bit struggled to keep his eyes open but managed a sluggish nod. Dren and Taloch sagged with relief of their own at a sign that he’d understood them. Tuck, for his part, was still scanning away at the information appearing on the screen. He slowly, deliberately, reached over to inspect Bit’s eyes. Carefully moving his eyelid up to see their color properly. He then inspected his dirty hair.
Despite the grime, it was obvious that his hair was pale and had an odd coloration. But with how mussed it was, it was difficult to tell exactly what. Bit protested with a quiet whine when Tuck moved his lips apart to check his teeth, tiny fangs glinting in the low light. Tuck nodded, humming an affirmative to himself.
“Looks like you’ve found yourselves a hybrid.” He said definitively. Bit looked to his savors to see shock and confusion pain on their faces.
“We thought he was human.” Dren replied. If Tuck had retained his human eyes, his expression would have been one of pure incredulity.
“A human with that level of empathic abilities? Uh huh, right.” Tuck muttered, turning back to the screen. “Human hybrids are rare, but they exist. Trouble is, most of them tend to have some serious physical problems. This one is no different.” He turned the screen to face the trio, Bit’s eyes protested at the light. Taloch seemed to notice, his large hand smoothing Bit’s hair back soothingly.
“What kind of problems? What’s wrong with him?” The minotaur demanded. Tuck held his hands up in mock surrender.
“Easy boss, ‘m gettin there.” Tuck responded. He pulled up information tabs on the screen that Bit struggled to understand. “Looks like that projection was just part of it. Little guy has a major energy buildup that his body simply isn’t equipped to handle. Probably part magic somethin. I can see about putting together some basic plans to mitigate the flare ups of pain but without more info and invasive tests.” Tuck shrugged, tapping the desk. “No other way to say it, gotta figure out what kind of hybrid he is. I don’t got the equipment for that. Gonna have to find a specialist that you can trust. Gonna warn ya though, I’ve been hearing some rumors outta westbrook that the demand for human hybrids in the market has gotten pretty damned high.” Tuck said, disdain clear in his voice.
Taloch snorted his disapproval while Dren’s firm grip tightened on Bit’s shoulder. The minotaur moved away from them, eyes flickering blue before beginning to speak with someone in a heated tone. Dren, still clutching Bit’s shoulder, turned to Tuck and spoke in a determined voice.
“Get together what you can for the pain and something to help him sleep. We’ll take care of the rest.” his gruff voice carrying authority. The cyborg gave a mock salute and left the room, yelling for someone to get things ready. Bit looked up at the orc, tears beginning to well in his eyes. The urge to sleep was too great to fight much longer, but through the haze he finally managed it.
“Why?” His voice was quiet, and rough from disuse. But it was enough. Dren’s eyes snapped to his in an instant. Taloch had stumbled, muttering that he would send more details later as he made his way over. They both looked down at him with so much hurt in their eyes. So much pain that Bit simply didn’t understand. The minotaur’s calloused hand caressed the human’s cheek. Bit felt himself leaning into the touch, desperate for affection.
“Because,” Taloch choked out, “we felt your pain.” The thought hit the pit of Bit’s stomach, as he realized his fears had been warranted. Someone had felt his suffering. But…
But they’d come to his rescue. They were safe . His eyes drooped closed, as he nuzzled into Taloch’s touch. Bit slipped into blessed sleep.