When he said we should meet for lunch, he didn’t think I’d actually say yes. I get it, though - most folks see an 8-foot-tall fox woman and they start looking for the nearest exit. But this guy, Etrius, he didn’t seem like the type to spook easy. Probably why he suggested it in the first place.
I picked a spot I like - Scrud's, a little dive of a fast food joint in one of the quieter suburban districts. It’s the kind of place that serves burgers bigger than your face and wings so spicy they make your eyes water just from the smell. My kind of place. Besides, I figured a low-key spot like this would be less likely to attract too much attention. Even so, I knew we’d get some looks.
Hell, I always get looks.
The walk from the outer districts to the suburbs wasn’t too bad, but it still felt like a trek. This city was huge, but there were spots that made you forget you were in the middle of a metropolis. The suburban district was one of those spots - quaint houses, small parks, kids playing in the street. It almost made you think everything was normal.
Almost.
By the time I reached Scrud’s, Etrius was already there, standing awkwardly by the entrance. He spotted me and waved, almost knocking over a garbage can in the process. I couldn’t help but chuckle. For a guy who looked like he could tear someone in half, he sure had a way of making himself seem harmless.
“Hey, Zoey,” he said as I walked up. His voice was a little too loud, like he wasn’t used to talking to people. Maybe he wasn’t. I sure as hell wasn’t.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied, giving him a friendly nod. “Been waiting long?”
“Nah, just got here,” he said, though his body language told me he’d been there for a while. He fumbled with his phone, nearly dropping it. “Uh, you know this place well?”
I smirked. “Yeah, I come here when I’m in the area. Good food, cheap, and no one bothers you. Usually, anyway.”
We both knew the “usually” was going to be tested today. I pushed the door open and let him follow me inside. As expected, heads turned. People didn’t stop and stare - they’d learned better than that - but I could feel their eyes on me, hear the whispered conversations that tried to be subtle but failed miserably.
“Is that her? The big fox lady?”
“What’s that tiger guy doing with her?”
I did my best to ignore it, though it was hard. I wasn’t used to having someone with me when I came here, and Etrius wasn’t exactly inconspicuous himself. But I’d picked this place for a reason, and I wasn’t about to let a few gawkers ruin it.
We got in line, and I pointed out a few of my favorite items to Etrius. “The Inferno Burger’s good if you like spicy. They’ve got a killer wing combo too.”
He hesitated, scanning the menu. “Uh, how spicy are we talking?”
I grinned. “Spicy enough to make you sweat, but it’s worth it. Trust me.”
He nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t sold. After a minute, he settled on a double cheeseburger and fries, something safe. I ordered my usual - an Inferno Burger with extra jalapeños and a side of Nuclear Wings.
The cashier, a kid who couldn’t have been more than seventeen, looked like he was about to piss himself as he took our order. I couldn’t blame him - he probably hadn’t seen anything like us in his life. I leaned in a bit, trying to ease the tension. “Hey, it’s all good, alright? We’re just here for the food.”
The kid nodded frantically, punching in our order and handing us our number. I gave him a reassuring smile, though I’m not sure it had the effect I intended. Etrius and I found a booth near the back, away from most of the other customers. It was better that way - for everyone.
“So,” I started once we were seated, “how’s life treating you? Getting used to it yet?”
He shrugged, looking around the place like he was still trying to figure out where he was. “It’s… different. A lot different from where I’ve been.”
“Yeah?” I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Where was that?”
“Russia,” he said simply, like it was just another place. But I knew better. Russia wasn’t 'just another place,' not anymore. The big war had basically turned the country into a giant scorch mark."
I raised an eyebrow. “That explains a lot.”
He gave a humorless chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a vacation. But I got out, ended up here. Still trying to figure out how everything works, to be honest.”
I nodded, understanding more than he probably realized. “You’re doing alright so far. Better than most.”
“Thanks,” he said, though he didn’t sound convinced. “What about you? How’d you end up here?”
I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the table. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk about it - it was just… complicated. “Long story,” I finally said. “Short version? I got tired of being someone else’s pawn. Decided to make my own way.”
Etrius nodded, not pressing for more. I appreciated that. The less I had to talk about my past, the better. At least for now.
Our food arrived not long after, the server practically tossing the tray onto our table before scurrying away. I watched her go, feeling that familiar pang of frustration. No matter how hard I tried to be normal, to blend in, people always acted like I was some kind of monster.
Etrius seemed to pick up on my mood because he cleared his throat and said, “People here… they’re not used to seeing folks like us, are they?”
I snorted, shaking my head. “Nope. I get it, though. We’re not exactly average people.”
“Yeah, but…” He trailed off, frowning. “It’s like they think we’re dangerous just because we look different.”
“Welcome to the club,” I muttered, taking a bite of my burger. The heat from the jalapeños hit me immediately, but it was a familiar burn, one that brought me back to the present. “Been dealing with that my whole life.”
Etrius was quiet for a moment, chewing thoughtfully on his burger. “I guess I’ve been out of it for so long, I forgot what it’s like. To be… normal, I mean.”
“Normal’s overrated,” I said, wiping some sauce from my muzzle. “People think they want normal, but really, they just want what’s familiar. Anything outside that, and they freak out.”
He nodded slowly, like he was processing what I said. “I guess you’re right. It’s just… hard to adjust.”
“Yeah, it is,” I admitted, my voice softer than usual. “But you get used to it. You find ways to make it work.”
He didn’t reply right away, focusing on his food instead. I watched him, noting the way he moved, the way he seemed so out of place in this world. It reminded me of myself, back when I first broke out of the labs and saw the real world for the first time. It was overwhelming, terrifying even. But you either adapt, or you don’t survive.
“So, Russia,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. “Must’ve been rough, huh?”
He nodded, swallowing a bite of his burger. “Yeah. Not exactly forgiving.”
I studied him for a moment, taking in the cybernetic arms, the thick fur, the unnatural strength that seemed to radiate from him. “You’re still standing,” I pointed out. “That says something.”
“Yeah, but sometimes I wonder if that’s a good thing,” he muttered, looking down at his hands. “I didn’t ask for any of this, you know?”
“None of us did,” I replied, more harshly than I intended. His eyes snapped up to mine, and I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Sorry. It’s just… I know what you mean. Better than anyone.”
He seemed to relax a bit at that, nodding. “Yeah. I guess you do.”
We lapsed into silence for a while after that, each lost in our thoughts. I focused on my food, letting the spice and heat clear my mind. This wasn’t how I’d planned for things to go - I didn’t want to dredge up all this shit, not with him, not now. But once you start talking about the past, it’s hard to stop.
“So, you’re a mercenary, huh?” Etrius asked, breaking the silence.
“Yeah,” I replied, grateful for the change in topic. “Pays the bills. Keeps me busy. You?”
“Same,” he said. “Though I’m still getting the hang of it here. The city’s… different from what I’m used to.”
“Yeah, Sigma’s a beast of its own,” I agreed. “You’ll get the hang of it. Just take it slow.”
“I plan to,” he said, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Maybe I’ll even find something I like.”
“Don’t count on it,” I said with a grin. “But you might find something you can tolerate.”
He laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to cut through the tension. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
By the time we finished, we were both in better spirits. Despite the stares and whispers, we managed to enjoy ourselves. Etrius was still fumbling with his phone, but he was starting to get the hang of things. He even managed to avoid dropping it this time.
As we left the restaurant, I found myself thinking that this might be the start of something unexpected. Etrius was still new, still figuring things out, but there was something about him that felt… familiar. Maybe it was because we both had scars, both had stories that didn’t quite fit the norm.
“So, I guess this is where we part ways,” Etrius said, his voice carrying a note of reluctance.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, I guess so. But, you know, if you need someone to show you around or just hang out, I’m around.”
He looked surprised but pleased. “Really? That’d be great.”
“Yeah,” I said, "call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Zoey. I’ll definitely give you a call."
“Good,” I said, giving him a small smile. “Just don’t wait too long. I’ve got a habit of forgetting names.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a chuckle. “See you around.”
As we parted ways, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. In a city like Sigma, where everyone was fighting to survive, it was nice to find someone who seemed to understand. Even if he didn’t share my love for spicy food, maybe there was something else we could bond over.
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