College Is Like A Chronic Migraine [Murder Drones Human College AU]

...Another Begins

N stirred from a restless sleep, the remnants of anxiety lingering in his mind like stubborn cobwebs. Uzi's calming presence had finally lulled him into slumber, but as his eyes fluttered open, the unsettling quietness of the room immediately set him on edge. He reached out instinctively, his hand finding nothing but the cool, empty space beside him. Uzi was gone.

His heart quickened. Panic surged through his veins as he threw off the covers and bolted upright. Where could she have gone? The thought of Uzi, sick and alone, gnawed at him. He needed to find her.

N stumbled out of his room, his footsteps echoing down the sterile hallways of the facility. He passed a few familiar faces, but none of them had seen Uzi. Desperation mounting, he finally spotted Tessa in the lounge, engrossed in a report.

"Tessa, where's Uzi?" N's voice cracked with worry.

Tessa looked up, her eyes softening at the sight of his distress. "She went to the doctor, N. Just like you asked her to."

Relief washed over him, but it was quickly followed by a wave of guilt. He had been so consumed by his own struggles that he had almost forgotten the severity of Uzi's condition. He needed to be there for her.

As he turned to leave, he was stopped by a surprisingly gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to see J, her usual sharp demeanor softened into something almost tender.

"N, wait," J said softly. "I... I know we still haven't exactly been on good terms yet, but I want to change that. I don't want to make the same mistake I did with Cyn."

N was taken aback. J's hatred for him had been a constant shadow in his life, and while it was disappearing already, this unexpected kindness left him momentarily speechless.

J continued, her voice filled with regret. "I never got the chance to fix things with Cyn before she died. I don't want to lose you too, not without trying to make things right."

N nodded, his own emotions swirling in a confusing mix of hope and apprehension. "Thank you, J. That means a lot."

With a small, encouraging smile, J released his shoulder. "Go find Uzi. She needs you."

As N made his way towards the exit, he noticed Tessa standing by the doorway, her expression distant and preoccupied. He hesitated, sensing something was off.

"Tessa, are you okay?" he asked gently.

Tessa snapped out of her reverie, giving him a forced smile. "Yeah, just... a lot on my mind. I need to get back to my lab. Got some important research to do."

N knew better than to press further. He watched as Tessa hurried away, disappearing into the depths of her lab, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Left alone in the now eerily silent corridor, N felt a pang of loneliness. He needed someone to talk to, someone who could help him make sense of everything. He decided to find Lizzy.

He found her in the common area, her face lighting up as she saw him approach. "Hey, N! What's up?"

N sighed, sinking into a chair beside her. "It's Uzi. She's at the doctor, and I'm worried. And J... she was actually really nice to me. More than once. I don't know what to think."

Lizzy's expression softened with understanding. "It's a lot to take in, huh? J's had a lot of time to think about her mistakes. Maybe she really wants to make things right."

N nodded, appreciating Lizzy's perspective. "I hope so. I just want things to be okay."

"They will be," Lizzy assured him. "You've got us. We'll get through this together."