Without You (Adam Taurus x Faunus!OC)

Chapter 15: A . . . Friend?

<102 POV>

As 102 mined, which she did every single day of her life for the past two years, she tried to block out the horrid smell of sweat and dust with her thoughts.  She tried to remember any interesting rumors she heard recently, but nothing really came to mind.

Rumors always spread like wildfire here. It's only natural, with so much going on in such an enclosed space. Usually, rumors come and go without much notice by 102. Faunus are always getting tormented, beaten, and punished for even the smallest mistakes. 

Why, just last week, everyone was talking about how 432 - a frog faunus - was sent away for coughing profusely. The overseer thought she was sick with silicosis. No one knows if she actually had it or not, but that doesn't change the fact that she's not here anymore. 

The thought of being sent away made a chill go down 102's spine as she continued mining. At least here, she always knew what to expect. She knew what would happen every second of every day and how to not get the humans angry. Anyone who was sent away never came back. Where exactly did they go? What happened to them? 

How can another place actually be any worse than the SDC?

And 102 knew that 62 felt the same way. This same fear. Every faunus does. 

Should she . . . perhaps . . . give 62 a break? Should she stop taking advantage of 62's illness?  Stop making her live in even more fear than she has to?

'No.'

As 102 worked with her pickaxe, sweat dripping from her forehead from both the intense work and heat, she couldn't help but shake her head to get rid of that ridiculous thought. That 62 may think she's so innocent, but 102 still remembers that night . . . the night that ruined everything for everyone here. 

It was all 62's fault. 

She deserves more than that little scar on her forehead. 62 deserves to be treated like dirt. She deserves to live with fear. Taking advantage of 62's silicosis just made things more convenient for 102. After all, 62 clearly treated him like dirt. When he laid dying, his screams were filled with pure fear, his eyes open wide with shock, crying as he stared at the bullet wounds on his chest in disbelief. 

Then his eyes closed forever as he took his final breath, his face void of the color and brightness he once had. His hands -

102 had to shake her head again. As difficult as it was to ignore the temptation, 102 knew she shouldn't be thinking about this here. Even though he was killed two years ago, the memory was still clear and vivid, as if it had just happened last night.

However, now that she was thinking about it, 102 realized she needed to figure out something else to do with 62. 102 thought she would get caught by a guard if she sent her off to fetch some herbs. Hopefully, that orange-haired girl will get caught this time. Ya it'd be neat to get the herbs, but it would also be cool if 62 gets punished. 102 will have to wait until later tonight to find out what happened. But something tells her that 62 will find her way back, like she did last time. Which means that the dog faunus have to come up with something else to do with her - and soon.

102 then heard someone next to her breathing heavily. She looked to the side and saw that the sound was coming from that kid from a couple of days ago, the red-head. He seemed timid before, but know he gives off an atmosphere that's more complicated than that.

He seems . . . terrified. As if he's on the verge of being broken. 

102 remembers very well when she felt the same way, back when she was new to the SDC herself, two long years ago. Well, honestly, she still kind of feels that way. The horror of giving up who you are - who you were - in order to live another day in this wretched place pounds in your head on a daily basis.