It can always get worse ( Sebastian solace x reader)

Chapter III - Uneasy Alliance

You hesitate at first, unsure of what lies beyond the vent. But with no keycard in sight and no other options, you reluctantly crawl through the narrow metal passage. As you emerge on the other side, your breath catches in your throat—a towering creature, at least three times your size, looms before you.

"Welcome, welcome!" the creature says, its voice unsettlingly warm for something so massive and strange.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you," it continues, a grin stretching across its unsettling features. "Despite what you've seen, heard, or been told, my name's Sebastian. Your only friend.

You stand frozen, trying to process what's happening. This thing—this Sebastian—seems oddly calm, conversational even.

"If I'm correct, your supervisors have told you to collect 'loose assets,' right? Documents, vials, whatever. But I've got a proposition for you—a deal, if you're interested." Sebastian's many eyes gleam as he speaks. "You give me any research you've got on you, and in return, you can pick anything you like from what I've scavenged. Just grab it off my tail. Trust me, these will be far more useful to you than some 'silly data.'"He waves his tail, which is covered in various odd and tempting items. The offer seems too good to be true, but the creature keeps talking, not giving you much time to think.

"And don't worry," Sebastian adds with a sly grin. "You don't ask questions, and I won't either. You get what you need, I get what I want. Simple, right? Oh, and if you have anything running low on power, I've got batteries for sale on the table next to me. Take what you need."

As if reading your mind, he gestures toward a small table by the radio. "And if you're looking for the keycard to the next zone, it's right there, free of charge! No strings attached-."

You stare at him, more confused than frightened. Oddly enough, your fascination with marine life flares up—this strange creature reminds you of the ocean's mysteries. You once dreamed of studying marine biology in college, but with no money, you ended up joining the Marine Corps as your only real option, since working a 9 to 5 Job doesnt sound appealing.

The creature narrows its many eyes at you. "You gonna buy something, or are you just planning on staring at me all day?"

Snapping out of your daze, you quickly apologize. "Oh, yeah... sorry, sir."

For a moment, he looks at you with mild surprise, then a smirk forms on his strange face. "Huh. You're the first person who's ever willingly called me 'sir.'"

As you step closer to inspect the items he's offering, your eyes catch a glimpse of something unusual on his back—a strange device that immediately piques your curiosity. It looks eerily similar to the radio scramblers you used back in the Marine Corps, though this one seems... modified, more advanced.

"Hey, uh... what's that thing on your back?" you ask, unable to hide the curiosity in your voice.

The creature pauses for a moment, its eyes narrowing slightly before responding, "Oh, that? Don't worry about it."

The casual dismissal only heightens your unease, but there's something in his tone that warns you not to push. Still, your curiosity gnaws at you, and before you can stop yourself, you speak again.

"Is it possible that the device on your back is a scrambler?" you ask, trying to sound casual.

The creature's eyes narrow, and his voice takes on a more guarded tone. "Why do you want to know?"

"I was just curious. The design seemed... familiar."

He stares at you for a long moment before finally admitting, "Well, yeah, it is. But how did you figure that out?" His tone shifts, now slightly more intrigued. "Usually, the expendables they send down here are practically brain-dead, barely able to grasp the simplest things."