Etrius sat in a corner booth of Zoey's favorite fast-food joint, a place tucked away in a part of the city that most people avoided unless they had business there. It was the kind of place that felt familiar to the regulars, where the staff knew what you wanted before you said a word. Etrius was there because Zoey had insisted, telling him that nothing else in the world compared to the spicy chicken sandwiches they served.
But as he sat there, he was distracted, his mind going back to the last time they spoke. Zoey had been so vulnerable, so uncertain, and it bugged him. He was here to see how she was doing, but also because he genuinely liked her company, despite the casual nature of their relationship.
When the door swung open, and he saw a tall, black-furred figure walk in, he barely registered it. His attention was elsewhere, on the menu that he still hadn’t fully decided on.
But then the figure started walking straight toward him, and something clicked. The way she moved was familiar, and when she stopped right in front of him, his eyes widened in recognition, just as her lips met his in a deep and sloppy kiss. The shock of it made him freeze for a moment, but then he was kissing her back, his hands automatically going to her waist, pulling her closer.
When she finally pulled back, a satisfied smirk on her face, Etrius was left staring at her, his thoughts struggling to catch up with what had just happened.
"Zoey?" His voice was incredulous, not quite believing what he was seeing.
“Who the fuck else?” she replied, her smirk widening. She stood there, fully confident, the black fur accentuating her features in a way that made her look like a different person. The sideswept undercut fade was a bold choice, a sharp divergence to her usual ponytail, but it suited her, adding to the fierce new dark look she was sporting.
“I didn’t recognize you at all,” Etrius admitted, still slightly in awe. “You’ve… changed a lot.”
“Yeah, I needed to. I had to fuckin' do something that made me feel like I was in control of this,” Zoey said, gesturing at herself. “The dye—it’s a way of accepting the changes. It makes it easier to look in the damn mirror,”
Etrius nodded, understanding the sentiment behind it. He could see how this transformation was more than just cosmetic for her. It was a statement, a way of reclaiming her body from the things she had no power over. “You look good, really good. I mean, you always did, but this… I can't even think of the words for how amazing you look. Change is good, and this is proof.”
Zoey’s smirk softened into something more genuine, something appreciative. “Thanks. That's a really good way of putting it.”
They ordered—Zoey didn’t even need to look at the menu, going straight for her favorite spicy chicken sandwich, and Etrius decided to try the same, curious to see if it lived up to her hype. Once they had their food and were seated, the conversation flowed easily, more natural than Etrius expected.
“So, this black fur, how’s it been?” Etrius asked, taking a bite of his sandwich and letting the heat from the spices sink in. “Aside from looking pretty damn amazing.”
Zoey shrugged, taking a big bite of her sandwich before answering. “It’s been a fuckin' trip. Dying my fur is a way of coping, like, if all of me is black, then the spots that bother me don’t stand out as much. It’s weird, but it helps.”
“Not weird at all,” Etrius said, nodding as he chewed thoughtfully. “Makes a lot of sense, actually. You’re taking control of what you can. But I gotta say, this look of yours might be good for your work too. Stealth and all that.”
Zoey chuckled. “That’s true. Blending into the shadows is a little easier when you’re already halfway there.”
Etrius grinned at that, but then his expression grew more serious. “You seem a lot more at ease with it all, though. How’s that been for you? Accepting it, I mean.”
Zoey took a moment before responding, her eyes focused on the table between them. “It’s still a struggle. Every day, I wake up, and there’s a moment of panic when I remember what’s happening to me. But then I look in the mirror, and I see what I’ve done—this fur, this new look—and it helps. It reminds me that I’m not just letting it happen. I’m still in control, even if it’s in small ways.”
She paused, then looked up at him, her expression unreadable. “But I’m also fuckin' scared. What if there’s something else down the line? The black flesh, my horns—both of those were because of the EG. What if something else happens that I can’t hide?”
Etrius reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “Yeah, I get it. It’s not easy, and the unknown is always going to be terrifying. But you’re not alone in this. I will always care about you, and I'm here for you no matter what. Black, red, albino, whatever happens to you, I will be here to help in any way I can.”
They sat there for a while, finishing their food, the conversation drifting to other topics. Etrius felt pride for how she was handling it, even though he knew she wouldn’t see it that way. She was a fighter, always had been, and this was just another battle she was going to win, even if she didn’t realize it yet.
As they finished their meal and got up to leave, Etrius looked at her, the black fur, the new haircut, the confidence that was starting to return to her amber eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile. Zoey was changing, but she was still Zoey, still the woman who could face down anything and come out the other side stronger.
“Come on,” Zoey said, nudging him playfully. “Let’s get the hell out of here before they start charging us rent for loitering.”
Etrius laughed, following her out into the city, the future always uncertain.
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