Altered (Male Reader-Insert)

[27]

 Puro finally let's you and Lin go after what felt like an eternity yet you don't mind, in fact, you actually want it to last as long as possible. Puro steps back and you two start exploring the thin hallway first. You decide to check the photos first near the door that you entered and are surprised to see that it's photos of you, Lin, and Puro throughout your explorations.

 Lin also catches sight of this and the two of you look through every photo together. Although it seems like every photo was taken at random, you have a feeling that they were taken at times where it would seem like Puro would transfur you two.

 While going through every photo, you notice two more. You look at them and see they're the same one but with one of them an edited version of the other.

 The first is taken when you and Lin first met Puro at the library with him... bending over the pile of books as he was looking for the clipboard and keycard back then. The other edited photo has his fur edited to be white instead. And when looking closer, they both seem to have some sort of... stain marks on them and even feel a bit sticky to the touch.

 You decide to move on from that, not wanting to know what's up with those two extra photos. Though you do notice Lin hesitantly reaching out to those photos as if wanting to keep it for himself before giving up on it and letting down his arms.

 The next thing you focus on is the graph but you don't know what it represents. The hearts surrounding what appears to be a bar graph, the line graph having a slowly curving upwards line, and the photos right next to it might indicate about representing the relationship you two have with Puro together but you aren't fully sure.

 Beside the graph is a note which you read as Lin goes to check on the door on the other side of the hallway.

 "Damn it! The main generator is broken. I found the main culprit, but can't start the repair process by 'manual authorization'. The computer actually could not identify me as a 'person' and refused my operation access because of it. Although I knew that this would happen sooner or later, facing it in practice still hurts my self-esteem."

 There's one final note to check before moving on and Lin tells you that apparently the door he checked out is welded shut, leaving the pathway the only way to move forward.

 "The three guys are getting closer and closer.  Can the goo wolf with human-like thinking really go against his instinct and live in harmony with those two poor devils? If they join hands, I'm afraid they can overcome my blockade... It's time I had some 'private conversation' with that wolf. Let's wait and see."

 With everything finally explored, you and Lin approach the deep gap in the middle of the floor. Peering into it a bit, you can barely see the bottom, if there even is one, making you worry and even feel a bit dizzy. The gap isn't that difficult but the thought of having to jump over that makes you hesitant.

 Suddenly, Puro speaks up claiming that he can solve the problem as he approaches you two. He stares at the ravine and then to you two and repeats it for a couple of times before getting an idea.

 "Humans, are you afraid of heights? Under these circumstances, there is only one way. I'll do my best to be gentle! Humans, please come a little closer and one at a time."

 Lin steps up first, confused as to what Puro has in mind.

 "I'm going to throw you over!"

 And without warning again, Puro throws Lin over the gap and he manages to make it. Lin spends a good few moments being in shock before coming to his senses and steps back a bit to give you space to land.

 Now, with Lin at the other side, all that's left is you. Despite the scary and potentially fatal consequences if you don't clear the gap, you trust Puro to throw you over the ravine flawlessly. You also step closer to him and, without warning again, you also get thrown to the other side and meet up with Lin. This time you know what's to be expected and so you don't spend as much time being in shock.

 With Puro the only one left, he also yells out that he's coming too and you and Lin both give adequate landing space for him. He takes a couple steps back before getting a running start and jumping over the hole, easily reaching the other side and landing on his belly while also sliding a bit on it as well. He stands up with no apparent problem though is seemingly embarrassed about something.

 "My form was a bit unsightly... but as long as humans come over safely, all is good! Hope I didn't scare you two just now."

 Lin gets a bit annoyed while you don't, which you guess is a bit unfair since you do know what will happen as you went last. Puro then looks to Lin with a surprised expression

 "You are um, surprisingly light, not like other human. I hope I didn't use more force than needed. You might need to gain a bit of weight."

 Lin rolls his eyes before looking around the room which you also do as well. The pathway you both were thrown over leads to a more bigger and longer hallway with the path a bridge connecting to the other side over a large pool.

 Reaching the end of the hallway, there's a marked spot on the floor right in front of the door leading to the next area. Puro tells you to wait and when you both turn around, you see the aquatic latex creatures you've encountered before waving goodbye. Namely the squid dog, tiger shark, alligator, and axolotl.

 You wave back at the alligator and axolotl for helping you out and before it dives again, the alligator decides to show off to you one last time. It flips its body underwater while making sure its butt stick out above the water. It then smacks its own ass before floating upright again, this time staring at you seductively.

 You stop waving, clearly surprised at what the alligator did. Looking to the other two, you see the squid dog staring at the alligator with jealousy for catching your attention. It decides to do the same thing as well, also presenting its butt to you, this time swaying it from side to side while raising its head and looking back to make sure you're staring at it and getting satisfied when you are, despite your tired and somewhat annoyed expression.

 Meanwhile the tiger shark and axolotl are in front of the two and are busy waving at Lin, clueless of what's going on behind them.

 As a pair of sliding doors slowly close right in front of you, you see the alligator blowing you a kiss before all four of them dive underwater. After the doors shut, you swear you could hear some underwater fighting going on at the other side.

 Moving on from whatever that was, you and Lin turn around as an automated voice comes on. It says that it detects multiple people and that one must stand on the marked area on the floor. Lin steps on it and the automated voice tells him to stay still. A blue laser shoots down from the ceiling and passes Lin multiple times before stating its completed examination.

 Then it says for the next person to step on the area, you and Lin switch places and the same thing happens to you. The scanning finishes yet the voice announces three experiments, which Puro calls out on. The voice then grants passage to you all and the door in front of you opens.

 Bright light shines in from the next area and you get blinded a bit. You step forward with Lin behind you and Puro at the back. Once you're all past the door, it shuts behind you just as your eyes adjust to the light.

 You can clearly see now that you're all outside on a balcony with the sky cloudy making the outside world appear a bit darker. You remember the last, and only time, that you were on a balcony where you were still focused on getting to the library. It was sunny and the day was bright. In fact, now that you've mentioned the sun, you also get reminded of the times you saw it in the sky and how it was almost never at the same place where you last saw it.

 You wonder how long you have been in this building now and how many days have passed ever since you woke up, but that doesn't matter as you can sense the end getting ever so closer.