Slime!Monoma x Alien!Midoriya
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:35 pm
Izuku had never known his life would become so terribly tragic in a span of a few days. It began with an unknown vessel landing not far off from his village, sparking a curious and anxious hum from his fellows, and that suspicious him grew worse as a group of various species exited, wearing what appeared to be full body suits, presumably for space, or planets with inhospitable atmospheres to breathe in. The strangers were.... Charismatic, but Izuku had a bad feeling from the start. They gave off a certain.... Dread, an intense sense of unease, like looking an apex predator in the eye, while it was in a leap's distance. On the second day, the group began to explore their village, talk to everyone, ask questions-- the typical 'what do you do here' and various questions about their culture, then the more worrying question of, 'Are there more of you on this planet? How many villages are there of your kind?' Then the last day came, and it was a nightmare. His neighbors were shot down, women and children disappearing in a thick mist, and he and those his age were caught in nets and promptly struck unconscious.
That night, from a cage sadistically placed within the same room as a large, gruesome device, he was forced to endure the short-lived screams of his fellows being murdered, their ears ripped off, then their bodies thrown into some container for some other sinister purpose. Izuku was mortified, and naturally feared for his life, and truly believed that he wouldn't make it out of this alive. Alas, he managed to escape when an alien bearing a scar down his forehead removed his protective gear before pulling him out of the cage, allowing him to flee, use an escape pod, and flee that hellish ship, leaving everyone and everything he loved and knew behind.
When he finally landed on the nearest hospitable planet, he suffered a few minor injuries-- scrapes, bruises-- spare for his arm being fractured in a few places. However, the moment he was finally able to free himself of the pod, the planet’s government had already surrounded him, and promptly incapacitated the poor creature, and brought him to some unknown location.
Upon waking, he found himself in an all too white room, sterile both in color and scent. It gave him a headache, how clean it was, and the sparseness reminded him of a prison, or a temporary enclosure for a non-sentient animal in quarantine. Sure, he had a bed, but it was stiff-- at least five inches of foam-- and he had a sink and a toilet in one corner of the room. He hated how bare it was, how…. How lonely it all was. That first night, he only was able to sleep after having wept, wailed and whimpered, lamenting his sorrowful fate and status as possibly the last remnant of his kind. Either he had to find a suitable mate and multiply to pass on his genes, and hopefully carry on his species’ legacy somehow, or…. Or perish, his kind becoming extinct. Sure, he was young and well within the early stages of his prime breeding period, but how long would that last? Would he ever find a partner that he’d feel safe mating with, possibly raise a family with? He didn’t know, and those worries only fueled his stress, his melancholy.
The scientists that came in to examine him were, naturally, kept at bay with his defensive pheromones, paired with a wary hiss and growl, depending on how persistent the other beings were. In about ten days, the scientists finally figured out his preferred diet, and made sure to get him back to a healthy weight in no time, but all the same, Izuku was used to being softer, plus…. Despite lacking a mate, he knew his body was already trying to optimize his breeding capability, and it was making him even hungrier, trying to get enough expendable energy to make the switch to a yonic sex. He somehow knew that the population in this…. Lab, he supposed, wasn’t capable of multiple young with one mating session, if proven successful. He hated his general discomfort all the same, his abdomen always feeling tight, making him quite irritable and miserable.
Today was…. Maybe day thirty, he wasn’t so sure, but by now, there was a regular visitor to his small and painfully plain enclosure, and though he wasn’t entirely trusting, at least he was able to rest his poor ears around this person. But, he was always ready to use his pheromones as needed, even if it expended much needed calories for his discomfort to end.
-----
Many an alien species had been snatched up before the human public could become aware of them, that was something he'd learned while he stayed here. He was the being eventually designated as 'Neito Monoma'. That moron assistant had even explained to him why they'd named him that. 'Neito' apparently meant 'preferable person' which was either a reference to his ability or an ironic joke. He suspected both. Monoma meant 'object gap' which made no sense till you realized it was a pun off monomane meaning 'mimicry'. Well, they could have named him worse things, he supposed. At the very least, they'd stopped referring to him as a number, or by general descriptions.
He'd lived in the facility for several years now, but time really didn't have meaning anymore. He'd long since accepted that, for the most part, he just needed to concern himself with existing, experiments they ran him through, and feedings. For several months, it had been nearly impossible to get him to comply with anything, but after that, he started to jump through the hoops they presented him with out of sheer boredom. He'd even stopped purposely screwing up the results as punishments had been dished out once they'd realized what he was doing. He'd even started getting rewarded for doing as he was told. They were trying to train him like some mindless animal. The nerve of these bastards...
Though he was compliant for the most part by now, he never made their job easy. It was no secret that he would escape given the chance and he'd made the attempt several times till the security measures had gotten to the point where they were sure it was overkill at this point. That didn't stop him from trying, but they seemed to have secured him properly after a couple of years. Now that he was compliant (more or less) they had also started to use him in an attempt to communicate with other species being held here. They were always particular about who he was placed with as they didn't want him to be exposed to danger, nor meet someone he thought could facilitate his escape. There had been... Incidents.
Today was another day and it seemed like they were going to introduce him to someone new. They had taken to sending the fake redhead to deal with him recently, and though he wasn't as horrible as the others, he wasn't going to let them train him into some pliant little pet. Or not so little. He took up about the same amount of space as these humans did. It took quite a lot of coaxing, but he eventually climbed into the containment unit and allowed himself to be sealed inside.
Not long after, that same redhead was opening the door to the containment room housing their newest resident. He approached slowly and with a smile, dragging behind him a cart with what looked like a very large pressure pot. For the moment, he focused on the shy alien before him, speaking softly and sweetly to him even if he couldn't understand. "Hey there. I hope you slept better today. I know new things stress you out, but... Well, I brought someone new with me. I hope you guys can be good friends!" He wrapped up, turning to lift the pot and placing it before the other so he could look at it first.
"Monoma is... Unique, but he's not as bad as some people say he is. I don't think he likes me, but I think he'll like you." He assured, reaching out to start turning the large wingnuts that held the lid firmly closed. Once they were loose enough, he flipped the four latches they'd held in place and flipped open the lid. Inside there... Well, there didn't appear to be much, honestly. It looked like it was just filled with crystal clear water. There was something very off about it, however. With all the movement that had happened and the vibrations from opening the pot up, it shouldn't be so perfectly still and smooth. "Come on, Monoma-kun... Don't pretend to be asleep, I know you're not. ... Monoma-kun, please...?" Nothing. The surface of the 'water' remained as still and clear as before.
With a sigh, Kirishima lifted the pot with another grunt of effort tipping it over. All 140lbs or so came pouring out only to splat onto the floor. Rather than gushing out in all directions, as one would expect water to, it instead landed heavily and settled into a somewhat droopy sphere. It was like a ball was too tired to keep its shape properly. More startling than its unusual density was how it flared with color upon impact. The entire thing clouded over in a shimmering grey-blue. For the moment, the blob sat there, not motionless and retaining its current shape, completely silent.
The intern sighed softly, motioning to the stubborn blob. "This is Neito Monoma. Monoma, this is Izuku Midoriya. Be nice to him, he's shy and pretty nervous." He warned the motionless ball of slime, still not getting a reaction out of it. Did he really have to be this difficult all the time...?
-----
Izuku was nervous as Eijiro came in with a rather suspect crate, his ears hovering halfway, a soft threat should he be endangered by whatever Eijiro brought in. The human's tone was friendly, though he hadn't missed the faintly nervous tone-- what was he hiding? What was in that container? So many questions flooded his mind, and when the faux redhead spilled out whatever was in the pot, he scrambled backwards, the pores on his ears swelling with those defensive pheromones out of instinct.
This was not okay, he wasn't too keen on this.... Unknown creature, being left alone with him. What if this creature EATS him?? He let out a fearful whimper, looking at Eijiro pleadingly, and with a sense of betrayal, the other left him alone with the pseudo-liquid blob. The door was shut, and he soon stared at the blob, shaking like a leaf. One would think they'd try to introduce them through a safe, separating window first, but no.
They, according to Izuku's stressed out and unknowing mind, put a potential predator in his room.
But, despite staring the mass down for what felt like hours-- it was far shorter, as the exhaustion he felt from pumping his pheromones made minutes feel far longer-- it seemed the blob was unbothered, and that unsettled the poor green alien. He eventually relaxed his ears-- he was wasting much needed energy at this point-- but he sat in a curled fetal-like position in his corner of the room, watching the other closely. Poor thing didn't know what to do, how to process all of this.... He just hoped he wouldn't be hurt.
-----
"Awww... Sh, sh, sh!! It's okay! He won't hurt you, you'll see." Promised the kind intern, backing himself out of the room and taking the containment unit and cart out with him so the two could get acquainted. The poor guy looked so spooked... Still, he knew Neito and there was nothing to worry about, he wouldn't hurt the frightened creature and there was no evidence to show that he could hurt Monoma in turn. They just needed a few moments to get to know each other, he was sure of it. The poor faux redhead had no idea how betrayed he'd left his sweet charge feeling, but with any luck he would be forgiven in the future.
Meanwhile, the grey-blue blob did... Well... Nothing really. He allowed the poor guy to have his fit and panic, noting the pheromones he was putting off. Nasty stuff that. Now the rumors of the 'bunny alien' being a pain in the ass to deal with made sense, no human would willingly tolerate this. Hm. Seemed the lay-harmlessly-still method of trying to calm the other down wasn't really working either. He couldn't imagine he would feel better when he started moving, but he didn't have much choice at this point.
And so the slime started to move, not towards him, but towards his bed of all things. He stretched up fluidly, moving his mass up onto the relatively comfortable mattress. Once up there, he looked like he sort of melted, growing flatter and thinner till he'd draped himself over the entire thing. To the scientists watching through the mirror, this was pretty standard for him, but it wasn't likely that poor greenette would be able to figure out what he was doing. Said doings was searching out his DNA. Skin flakes were acceptable and he took those, but fur and hair were even better. The more DNA he could get a hold of, the better! Once he'd absorbed all that he could find to maximize his time, it was time to introduce himself properly.
The slime gathered up in the middle of the bed, only to keep forming upwards. It wasn't long before he was taking shape, slime molding into a humanoid shape. With each passing second, more and more detail was added. Distinct limbs, the shape of muscles, facial features, those distinctive ears, even hair. Once every detail was formed, his color changed, the areas that should be skin taking on a pale peachy tone, his hair shifting to a soft blond, and so on till he was in 'full color'. Lastly, he lost the wet, shiny quality covering him and with that, he looked like any other member of the poor creature's race, though he sported his own personal favorite features so he looked like his own person rather than just a clone of him.
Newly formed lips parted then and surely to the shock of no one but the alien he sat naked before, he spoke in his native language. "Our captors call me 'Neito Monoma.' What are you called? If I tell them your name, they might actually call you that. They can't pronouns my language so they gave me another name. What have they done to you to make you so afraid...? It's alright. I would never hurt you. You're safe with me." And so he started to put off the most calming scent he could.
-----
Izuku had tried to press himself further into the corner he braced himself against when the grey-blue blob began to move, a strangled whimper leaving him as he watched the other creep into uis bed. Why was the creature melting onto his bed?? Was he trying to find food? Taste whatever he lect behind, see if he's worth digesting?! He didn't know, and it surely stressed him out further, just thinking about that possibility. But, when the other began to slowly take shape and color, he watched in a deep, unsettled confusion as the other took on the features of his species-- the large ears, the unique markings that displayed emotion, the fur and hind-leg shape, he had to rub his eyes free of tears. What the *hell* was he seeing right now??
When the other spoke, he jumped, looking startled further, and with those calming pheromones coming his way, he hated how effective they were. *He didn't want to be calm right now, not when he didn't know if this creature would eat him or not!!* "I-Izuku.... Izuku Midoriya...." He replied, before swallowing thickly. "Th-they've only given me needle-sticks with weird medicine, o-or taken blood.... B-but you...." He didnt know how to say this without seeming rude, possibly inciting anger. "Y-you're like.... L-like the a-amorphous predators on my planet, but.... Th-they don't change shape, or talk.... I-I thought they were feeding me to you...." He admitted, before rubbing his eyes again, frustrated by the tears in the super fine fur on his cheeks.
"H-how are you.... Like me, now?" He asked, curiosity slowly overshadowing his, honestly reasonable, anxiety. "What are you able to do? D-do you know how to.... Well, b-be my species, I guess? Just, naturally?" He asked then, noting the constant stream of calming pheromones again. All the same, he soon curled up in a seated fetal position, hugging his knees to help ease the discomfort in his abdomen. Why did the cramps have to return now? "H-how long will you be like me....?"
-----
As he'd expected, the poor thing's panic increased when he started to move, but he had little choice in the matter. He would just have to hurry so as to minimize the stress he was causing. As soon as he had absorbed as much as he could find, he was forming up and spooking the poor thing further. Thankfully, that gave way to confusion rather than outright panic. He could still scent the fear in the air, but it was lessening with each passing moment.
"Izuku Midoriya..." He echoed back, almost as if tasting the name. "It's a very nice name, I'll be sure to tell them so they can call you that. I'm sure they could say a name like that too, not all of us are so lucky. Ah. So shots and blood work. Hm... Were probably supplementing his diet after taking blood work as they clumsily tried to figure out a diet for him. Experimentation didn't usually start till they understood the entity they had in their possession, at least the basics, anyway. Now that they had him to communicate with him, this step would go faster, for better or worse.
"Oh? There are things that look like me in your world? Well, I can promise you that I don't like to eat anything capable of thinking so I've no interest in eating you. You can relax, I won't hurt you and I won't let anyone else do it either, not while I'm here." He had to think about his next answer, however. Not everyone grasped his nature, no matter how simple his explanation. Sometimes they just couldn't understand the nature of something so very different from themselves.
"I found a little hair on your bed so I will probably be able to hold this shape for about an hour. Maybe more, depending on how much energy I burn. These take a lot out of you, don't they..." He asked, trailing his fingertips down along the length of one of his own ears which was indeed still trying to actively calm the other. "I have learned a lot about you from what I absorbed on your bed. It's why I know how to be one of you. For as long as I hold this shape, I can do anything you can."
He finally got off the bed, chancing getting closer though he was careful to move slowly so as not to stress him further. He sniffed at the air curiously, glancing down at his pelvis before making eye contact again. Apparently, this race could change sex when they needed to, but it was no easy task. He would need more energy to do this. He was too thin. "What do you like to eat? I know how what you ate on your world so I will be able to help the bastards in white to feed you, but it would be good to know what your favorite things are too. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Izuku?"
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Izuku nodded softly as Neito had repeated and commented on his name, and nodded softly, still naturally wary.... But, at least he was calming down a decent amount. As the possible remaining remnant of his kind in existence, it wasn't hard to be an anxious wreck, especially while getting poked and prodded at. It was a harrowing experience, not only witnessing the massacre of his people, but also being forced by his natural biology to shift in the hipes of repopulation, despite there being no real evidence they would be compatible at all.
But, as he listened to the blonde, he grew.... Trusting, or at least something similar. It could just be the pheromones, but there was also the fact the other was calm, wasn't posing as a threat to the poor lapine alien. Even if it felt weird to have the other promise not to eat poor Izuku just because he was sentient. But.... The additional promise to protect him made his heart flutter treacherously, and there was a soft, faint puff of returned calming pheromone from his own temder ears.
As the other answered how he was able to transform so easily, utilise the ears they shared, he nodded softly, even if he was still.... Blown away by it all. When the other mentioned the ears, he nodded softly. "I-it is supposed to replace running until our legs give out from exhaustion if we can't run from whatever we seem a threat...." Thus, why he was so, so tragically thin and troublesome for the scientists. "Sure, we have claws on our paws, but...." He flexed his, surprisingly large toebeans, only for a severely dull set of claws to barely manage to peek out of the fur there. "I-Im think they clipped my claws off before I woke up in here, and.... W-with my body having different priorities...." He frowned as he hugged his knees tighter, head hanging low. "Th-theyre not growing back.... O-or.... Or maybe they did something to me so they wouldn't, e-even after the change finishes...."
He instinctively squeaked and flinched when Monoma got off the bed, beginning to approach him, but he didn't try to press away or tried to use his ears again. He flushed in shame as he saw the other pointedly glanced over him-- at his pelvis-- then back up to his face. When asked what he really enjoyed eating, he blinked, and cursed how his shifting body ached and heart fluttered again in his chest. "I.... Um.... I-I really liked the fruits of my planet-- O-one of the others brought me a fuzzy and sweet fruit for me-- it was.... Pink and orange on the outside, and had yellow meat with a hard pit in the middle. They didn't let me eat the pit." He wondered why, but he had a feeling it might not be safe. "I-I also like fish, and red meats!! Uh.... But, if it's the red meat, it has to be bloody after being cooked, or at least juicy.... I cant eat if meat is dry." He shuddered softly, before a rude, *loud* growl erupted from his stomach. "O-oh.... It's probably getting close to feeding time.... Or I used too much energy...." He frowned, before looking up at the other, nervous, afraid of the possible answer he hoped he wouldnt hear.
".... Wh-what do they want with me? Th-the people in those white coats-- a-are.... Are they going to cut me open?" The poor creature looked so, so broken and scared after finally uttering those questions, as if he believed that would be his fate before he even got his answer. "I-I'm the last.... I-I'm the only one that escaped that murder ship....!!" He hiccuped, before soon sobbing, tugging at his ears weakly with his face hidden behind them. "Th-they stole our ears-- th-then they...." He sobbed out, unable to form another word as those horrible memories came crashing down onto him. He was the last, the true, tragic remainder of his species.
-----
Slowly the other calmed and he got to experience the same calming effect he was putting off. Oh, that did admittedly feel nice. "I see. So they are meant as a last line of defense. I'm sure these ears are used for a lot in your culture though, not just that. I only get basic obvious things from DNA with a little extra here and there. It takes some effort to put together language in particular as that's a very complex thing. The base biological functions come through clear, but culture... Less so," he explained, more to keep the conversation going than feeling the need to explain himself.
Peering down at his trimmed claws, he nodded a little. "I haven't heard of anything like that being done here. Your body probably has things it deems more important than growing back your claws quickly. You'll be fine, don't worry. If you can convince them you're no harm to them, they probably won't even bother clipping them again in the future. Well... Unless you need it." When the subject turned to food he was thankfully offered several bits of information to pass on. "Ah. They call it a <peach>. The pit is deadly poisonous, don't chew or eat it. The fruit itself is perfectly safe to eat though, the skin too." He chuckled softly as the other's stomach announced that it would very much like to be fed. He was about to get up to resolve that issue when the subject of their conversation took a sharp turn.
His smile faded and his heart sunk as he listened to the other, chest growing tight as he revealed his past. That all did explain why he was so very afraid here. He hesitated for a moment before taking a chance, drawing in close and very gently slipping his arms around the other. He held him close, shuffling himself around so he boxed him into the corner, protecting him from the rest of the world. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold his shape for as long, but he burned the energy to double down on his pheromones in hopes of calming him. He needed to reassure him, but he also didn't want to lie to him either... He sighed, but forced himself to speak.
"The people in coats are scientists. They work for a group that protects this world. They're very defensive and dangerously curious. With that said, they don't want you dead. If they cut you open, it's because they failed to keep you alive. I can promise you they won't take your ears while you live. They want to know more about you and will do what they can to find out as much as they can. They don't care how you feel about it. It's easier if you do what you're told. I don't, but it is easier if you do." Gently he nuzzled the other's hair, rubbing his back. "I'm not sure if it's possible to escape from this place, but I haven't managed yet. If you're good, this could be a good home for you. They'll take care of you all the same."
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When Monoma hazarded a guess about the cultural uses of his ears, Izuku did perk up, if only slightly. "We also use them and our cheeks for scent-claiming-- be it mates, young, or even adopted family or close friends. Those unmated let out a sweeter scent during the seasonal heats, and even sweeter still if they're truly compatible. I think the red-haired person smelled nice, under whatever strong scent he wears.... But you smell nice, too." He admitted, blushing faintly. "I dunno if that's part of your abilities or not, though." He thoight a moment, before looking up to the other. "We also have unique bioluminescent markings, though its more of a mood thing, with us glowing brightly in the dark if we're really, really happy, or.... Truly interested in a potential mate. Sometimes we have enough control to make the light pulse in patterns, show off a bit in the hopes to get the mate we want. But, in the end, it's clear to see which pairs are really going at it by light alone from insode their homes...." He trailed off, his expression growing sad.
At the assurances, he calmed down a bit more, flexing his toes softly, longingly almost. "We normally are able to keep them at reasonable lengths from climbing into our homes in the trees-- well, mostly healthy folks. Some homes were on the ground for the weak, recovering, terribly young or elderly. Those who couldn't climb used volcanic rock with super fine pits, either in small palm stones, or slabs nearby their beds so they could sit and scratch them down comfortably if they couldn't bend over safely." When Monoma explained what a peach was, he nodded, though he was a bit bashful as the other seemed mildly amused by his rudely growling stomach.
But, alas, that tender moment faded as he explained what had happened, revealing why he was so terribly scared, defensive around the men in white coats. He flinched when Monoma approached further, but when he felt securely boxed in, held tenderly in a show of compassion, he wept hard, loudly as he let it all out, all while clinging to the other. He'd been so, so alone, scared for so long, afraid of fading away into obscurity, his race erased by one group's cruel greed. As the slime began to explain the people that ran this scary place, he hiccuped, and nodded solemnly in understanding. He wanted to believe Monoma when he promised that he wouldn't suffer like his kin had, wanted to believe he'd live as long a life he could in a place like this. He didn't know if he'd live long, even if he gained the proper weight, really. His kind were deeply social-- needed more than the seemingly few hours of interaction he recieved from the labcoats who were only there to either take blood or feed him, or at least try to learn about him in some way.
"I-I don't know if I can c-call this home.... I-its too white, feels.... F-feels exposed, e-even if its just a box...." He sniffled, his dull nails softly digging into the borrowed fur on the other's back. "I'm scared.... Th-they'll let me see you again though, right?" He asked, soon looking up at him, his large, glossy eyes looking desperately into the other's with a clear expression of loneliness. "I-I can't handle beong alone.... Th-there used to be so many of us-- a-at least four to a home.... B-being alone hurts...." He sobbed, bowing his head again. "I-I don't want to be alone...."
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He shrugged lightly with a smile. "If I smell nice, then I smell nice. I didn't go out of my way to alter my scent so this is just the one I naturally have in this form." He admitted honestly. "You are bioluminescent? This room must be too bright for you then. I'll talk to them to lower the lights." He chuckled softly as the explanations of some more of his culture was revealed. "You live in high places too. I can feel that, but I wasn't sure if you just felt safer in trees or lived up there. I don't know how much bigger they will allow your enclosure to be, but I will talk to them about that too."
He had so many things to tell the humans, least of all the confirmation of their suspicions that the alien was sentient. It was something they'd assumed as he'd arrived on a space ship, but there was the possibility that he was sent by something else and was just an animal. He was so far from that... Worse still, they were apparently a very social race. This could present a bit of a problem. Needless to say, they had no other members of his race. He knew that this was going to be one of his major projects now, but he knew he wouldn't be around nearly enough from the sound of things.
"You'll see me again, don't worry. They want to get to know you and for the moment, I'm the only one that can talk to you. I don't know how they'll handle your loneliness, but I'll make the argument for you." He held him that might tighter, even starting to rock him gently. Socialization was clearly important, but it was made difficult with a language barrier like this. He would have to teach Izuku how to speak Japanese so that the humans could understand him as he knew only a couple might try to learn to speak the greenette's language. They would want to document it, sure, but actually learning to speak it was a different matter, worse if anything directly involved scenting.
"Listen... I'm going to let go so I can tell them to bring you food, but I'm not going to leave, okay? Do you want to come with me or do you want to stay here? I'm just going to go over there." He explained, pointing to the intercom panel on the wall next to the observation mirror.
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"Well, you do smell really good.... Clean, like the morning after the rain in a dense forest nearing the beginning of winter." Izuku explained softly, hoping he didn't sound odd as he described the other. "The light does hurt my eyes and head at times-- we dont see direct sunlight often unless there's an opening in the canopy-- maybe a muted green or deep blue- based light would be best? If that's not possible, dimming the light would be okay, too." He suggested, hoping that things would be more comfortable soon. "As far as the size of the room, if it's at least tall enough to climb into a nest, mayne with some plants, too, it'll be leagues better than what I have now.... Color would be nice." He smiled sadly, before gently shaking it off.
When told Monoma would come back as often as he could, and try to find a way to mitigate his loneliness, he let out a soft, shaky sigh of relief, comforted with that assurance, even if he knew it may be a while before he would feel okay, if he ever would. "I-I know some of us used to take in small animals that seemed to like us a l-lot for one reason or anothe.... Some of u-us had lizards, amphibians, and some small fluffy mammals.... B-before what happened, I was attempting to make a small lizard like me. H-he was a pretty red, had big eyes, a thick tail, and sticky little hands.... I-I hope he's okay.... " Izuku offered, hoping he may be allowed a pet if nothing else as far as socialization. "There was also a large mammal with bristles that seemed to wait at my tree every night, and he'd yell at me for attention. It ate a fair amount of bugs and fruits, and had the softest underbelly ever, though, it liked tackling me and then trying to nap on me." He laughed softly, remembering his more fond memories.
When the slime told him he was about to go get Izuku food, the greenette sniffled as he nodded softly, wanting to come along. It felt too nice to be held, and he didn't want to separate entirely for too long if he could avoid it. He didn't like how the odd panel on the wall was so close to the mirrored window, though. He's never liked it-- between the first few nights that he thought he saw someone from his tribe, or even his mother, only to weep, to how it almost always felt like he was being watched, never having a moment of privacy.
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Soft grey-blue eyes blinked lightly at the description of his scent, a warm, happy feeling welling up inside of him. "That... That sounds wonderful. The way you describe things is very beautiful." He added, not even noticing the faint glow in his own markings, almost impossible to see in the harsh light. He nodded a little, having noticed the strain in his own eyes, but he wasn't sure just how little light the species preferred. "Green or blue, got it. I'll see what they can do about making things more comfortable for you. A high up nest and a light change would be easy, but bigger changes might take some time. There is a... How to explain it...? A structure. A hierarchy. Everything they do has to be approved and some stuff is easier to get approval for than others. I'll push them."
"A pet? That's another approval problem, but it shouldn't be impossible." He wasn't exactly sure what he would be able to manage to convince them to give him, but he would try all the same. At least he seemed happy remembering his animal friends so those would definitely help if they could get them. It was a bit of a bandaid, but still. Even then, it wasn't likely to come very quickly. They would have to come up with some other system to fill in the space between. "It'll get better soon, that much I'm sure of." He assured, knowing very well that the ones that behave often get better treatment. Izuku seemed like the kind that would behave.
He nodded in return and stood himself up, helping the alien up to his paws as well. Then, hand in hand, he walked him over to the panel and motioned towards it and the three buttons it has. "This red one is for emergencies which is why it's covered. You have to lift the cover to press it. Don't press it unless it's really important or they might disconnect it then when you actually have an emergency it won't work. This yellow one is to call for someone. There's always someone awake, but not always someone watching you specifically. This will get whoever that's there to send someone to check on you, if there isn't someone there. I know there's people there now because letting me in with you is an experiment in of itself so they want to record everything that we do. The green one is to talk to them." He sighed, looking blandly at the mirror then more softly to Izuku again.
"Here, you can do it yourself. I'll tell them in more detail what you want, but it's good practice." He then went on to gently teach him the words for 'hungry', 'thirsty', 'bath', 'lonely', and 'bored' as these would cover his basic needs for right now. "Go on. Give it a try!"
-----
"R-really? I used to tell stories for the little ones whenever it was my turn to help supervise them all-- they all seemed to really like the tales I came up with, or newer retellings of old myths." He sighed gently then, before shaking away the sadness before they could begin again. However, it came more easily as he saw the other begin to faintly glow, even if only for a short few moments, making Izuku's own lights glow in kind. However, when told some things would be changed sooner and or more readily than others, he understood, and he did his best not to get his hopes too high. Unless Monoma had more sway than he let on, it would be a long while before he would be comfortable, he assumed.
Another approval problem, huh? But, Monoma was going to try for him, Izuku was happy for that at least. "Okay.... If they can't give me a real pet, I can handle a toy one, at least for a while? At least something I can hold close for comfort?" He offered, hoping he could at least get that first if it would be a while, if ever, that he'd get a companion animal to tend to and keep his mind off of his situation. Just.... Something to help fill the void, if only a little bit, whenever he didn't have Monoma over to visit.
The greenette listened as the other explained the buttons on the panel, nodding as the details were given. He hoped his emergencies wouldn't be deemed as inconsequential to his.... Captors. It's rare, but he has had panic attacks on the past, struggled for air as his stomach knotted, blood chilled with a fear he couldn't control, mind spinning, blank, unable to shake free without help, grounding him once more. Izuku looked to the mirror as it was addressed as 'them', and he wilted, stomach uneasy. So, he wasn't imagining being watched, huh?
As Monoma began to teach him a few words, he recited them as best he could-- he struggled a bit with syllable stressing only on the first of each word, but it at least by the time he was encouraged to try, he was able to be vaguely understood. He pressed the green button on the wall, before saying "hungry" into the speaker, his voice nervous, his accent lightly trilling the vowels despite his best attempts to be clearer. "D-did I say it right, Monoma?" He asked, button still pressed.
That night, from a cage sadistically placed within the same room as a large, gruesome device, he was forced to endure the short-lived screams of his fellows being murdered, their ears ripped off, then their bodies thrown into some container for some other sinister purpose. Izuku was mortified, and naturally feared for his life, and truly believed that he wouldn't make it out of this alive. Alas, he managed to escape when an alien bearing a scar down his forehead removed his protective gear before pulling him out of the cage, allowing him to flee, use an escape pod, and flee that hellish ship, leaving everyone and everything he loved and knew behind.
When he finally landed on the nearest hospitable planet, he suffered a few minor injuries-- scrapes, bruises-- spare for his arm being fractured in a few places. However, the moment he was finally able to free himself of the pod, the planet’s government had already surrounded him, and promptly incapacitated the poor creature, and brought him to some unknown location.
Upon waking, he found himself in an all too white room, sterile both in color and scent. It gave him a headache, how clean it was, and the sparseness reminded him of a prison, or a temporary enclosure for a non-sentient animal in quarantine. Sure, he had a bed, but it was stiff-- at least five inches of foam-- and he had a sink and a toilet in one corner of the room. He hated how bare it was, how…. How lonely it all was. That first night, he only was able to sleep after having wept, wailed and whimpered, lamenting his sorrowful fate and status as possibly the last remnant of his kind. Either he had to find a suitable mate and multiply to pass on his genes, and hopefully carry on his species’ legacy somehow, or…. Or perish, his kind becoming extinct. Sure, he was young and well within the early stages of his prime breeding period, but how long would that last? Would he ever find a partner that he’d feel safe mating with, possibly raise a family with? He didn’t know, and those worries only fueled his stress, his melancholy.
The scientists that came in to examine him were, naturally, kept at bay with his defensive pheromones, paired with a wary hiss and growl, depending on how persistent the other beings were. In about ten days, the scientists finally figured out his preferred diet, and made sure to get him back to a healthy weight in no time, but all the same, Izuku was used to being softer, plus…. Despite lacking a mate, he knew his body was already trying to optimize his breeding capability, and it was making him even hungrier, trying to get enough expendable energy to make the switch to a yonic sex. He somehow knew that the population in this…. Lab, he supposed, wasn’t capable of multiple young with one mating session, if proven successful. He hated his general discomfort all the same, his abdomen always feeling tight, making him quite irritable and miserable.
Today was…. Maybe day thirty, he wasn’t so sure, but by now, there was a regular visitor to his small and painfully plain enclosure, and though he wasn’t entirely trusting, at least he was able to rest his poor ears around this person. But, he was always ready to use his pheromones as needed, even if it expended much needed calories for his discomfort to end.
-----
Many an alien species had been snatched up before the human public could become aware of them, that was something he'd learned while he stayed here. He was the being eventually designated as 'Neito Monoma'. That moron assistant had even explained to him why they'd named him that. 'Neito' apparently meant 'preferable person' which was either a reference to his ability or an ironic joke. He suspected both. Monoma meant 'object gap' which made no sense till you realized it was a pun off monomane meaning 'mimicry'. Well, they could have named him worse things, he supposed. At the very least, they'd stopped referring to him as a number, or by general descriptions.
He'd lived in the facility for several years now, but time really didn't have meaning anymore. He'd long since accepted that, for the most part, he just needed to concern himself with existing, experiments they ran him through, and feedings. For several months, it had been nearly impossible to get him to comply with anything, but after that, he started to jump through the hoops they presented him with out of sheer boredom. He'd even stopped purposely screwing up the results as punishments had been dished out once they'd realized what he was doing. He'd even started getting rewarded for doing as he was told. They were trying to train him like some mindless animal. The nerve of these bastards...
Though he was compliant for the most part by now, he never made their job easy. It was no secret that he would escape given the chance and he'd made the attempt several times till the security measures had gotten to the point where they were sure it was overkill at this point. That didn't stop him from trying, but they seemed to have secured him properly after a couple of years. Now that he was compliant (more or less) they had also started to use him in an attempt to communicate with other species being held here. They were always particular about who he was placed with as they didn't want him to be exposed to danger, nor meet someone he thought could facilitate his escape. There had been... Incidents.
Today was another day and it seemed like they were going to introduce him to someone new. They had taken to sending the fake redhead to deal with him recently, and though he wasn't as horrible as the others, he wasn't going to let them train him into some pliant little pet. Or not so little. He took up about the same amount of space as these humans did. It took quite a lot of coaxing, but he eventually climbed into the containment unit and allowed himself to be sealed inside.
Not long after, that same redhead was opening the door to the containment room housing their newest resident. He approached slowly and with a smile, dragging behind him a cart with what looked like a very large pressure pot. For the moment, he focused on the shy alien before him, speaking softly and sweetly to him even if he couldn't understand. "Hey there. I hope you slept better today. I know new things stress you out, but... Well, I brought someone new with me. I hope you guys can be good friends!" He wrapped up, turning to lift the pot and placing it before the other so he could look at it first.
"Monoma is... Unique, but he's not as bad as some people say he is. I don't think he likes me, but I think he'll like you." He assured, reaching out to start turning the large wingnuts that held the lid firmly closed. Once they were loose enough, he flipped the four latches they'd held in place and flipped open the lid. Inside there... Well, there didn't appear to be much, honestly. It looked like it was just filled with crystal clear water. There was something very off about it, however. With all the movement that had happened and the vibrations from opening the pot up, it shouldn't be so perfectly still and smooth. "Come on, Monoma-kun... Don't pretend to be asleep, I know you're not. ... Monoma-kun, please...?" Nothing. The surface of the 'water' remained as still and clear as before.
With a sigh, Kirishima lifted the pot with another grunt of effort tipping it over. All 140lbs or so came pouring out only to splat onto the floor. Rather than gushing out in all directions, as one would expect water to, it instead landed heavily and settled into a somewhat droopy sphere. It was like a ball was too tired to keep its shape properly. More startling than its unusual density was how it flared with color upon impact. The entire thing clouded over in a shimmering grey-blue. For the moment, the blob sat there, not motionless and retaining its current shape, completely silent.
The intern sighed softly, motioning to the stubborn blob. "This is Neito Monoma. Monoma, this is Izuku Midoriya. Be nice to him, he's shy and pretty nervous." He warned the motionless ball of slime, still not getting a reaction out of it. Did he really have to be this difficult all the time...?
-----
Izuku was nervous as Eijiro came in with a rather suspect crate, his ears hovering halfway, a soft threat should he be endangered by whatever Eijiro brought in. The human's tone was friendly, though he hadn't missed the faintly nervous tone-- what was he hiding? What was in that container? So many questions flooded his mind, and when the faux redhead spilled out whatever was in the pot, he scrambled backwards, the pores on his ears swelling with those defensive pheromones out of instinct.
This was not okay, he wasn't too keen on this.... Unknown creature, being left alone with him. What if this creature EATS him?? He let out a fearful whimper, looking at Eijiro pleadingly, and with a sense of betrayal, the other left him alone with the pseudo-liquid blob. The door was shut, and he soon stared at the blob, shaking like a leaf. One would think they'd try to introduce them through a safe, separating window first, but no.
They, according to Izuku's stressed out and unknowing mind, put a potential predator in his room.
But, despite staring the mass down for what felt like hours-- it was far shorter, as the exhaustion he felt from pumping his pheromones made minutes feel far longer-- it seemed the blob was unbothered, and that unsettled the poor green alien. He eventually relaxed his ears-- he was wasting much needed energy at this point-- but he sat in a curled fetal-like position in his corner of the room, watching the other closely. Poor thing didn't know what to do, how to process all of this.... He just hoped he wouldn't be hurt.
-----
"Awww... Sh, sh, sh!! It's okay! He won't hurt you, you'll see." Promised the kind intern, backing himself out of the room and taking the containment unit and cart out with him so the two could get acquainted. The poor guy looked so spooked... Still, he knew Neito and there was nothing to worry about, he wouldn't hurt the frightened creature and there was no evidence to show that he could hurt Monoma in turn. They just needed a few moments to get to know each other, he was sure of it. The poor faux redhead had no idea how betrayed he'd left his sweet charge feeling, but with any luck he would be forgiven in the future.
Meanwhile, the grey-blue blob did... Well... Nothing really. He allowed the poor guy to have his fit and panic, noting the pheromones he was putting off. Nasty stuff that. Now the rumors of the 'bunny alien' being a pain in the ass to deal with made sense, no human would willingly tolerate this. Hm. Seemed the lay-harmlessly-still method of trying to calm the other down wasn't really working either. He couldn't imagine he would feel better when he started moving, but he didn't have much choice at this point.
And so the slime started to move, not towards him, but towards his bed of all things. He stretched up fluidly, moving his mass up onto the relatively comfortable mattress. Once up there, he looked like he sort of melted, growing flatter and thinner till he'd draped himself over the entire thing. To the scientists watching through the mirror, this was pretty standard for him, but it wasn't likely that poor greenette would be able to figure out what he was doing. Said doings was searching out his DNA. Skin flakes were acceptable and he took those, but fur and hair were even better. The more DNA he could get a hold of, the better! Once he'd absorbed all that he could find to maximize his time, it was time to introduce himself properly.
The slime gathered up in the middle of the bed, only to keep forming upwards. It wasn't long before he was taking shape, slime molding into a humanoid shape. With each passing second, more and more detail was added. Distinct limbs, the shape of muscles, facial features, those distinctive ears, even hair. Once every detail was formed, his color changed, the areas that should be skin taking on a pale peachy tone, his hair shifting to a soft blond, and so on till he was in 'full color'. Lastly, he lost the wet, shiny quality covering him and with that, he looked like any other member of the poor creature's race, though he sported his own personal favorite features so he looked like his own person rather than just a clone of him.
Newly formed lips parted then and surely to the shock of no one but the alien he sat naked before, he spoke in his native language. "Our captors call me 'Neito Monoma.' What are you called? If I tell them your name, they might actually call you that. They can't pronouns my language so they gave me another name. What have they done to you to make you so afraid...? It's alright. I would never hurt you. You're safe with me." And so he started to put off the most calming scent he could.
-----
Izuku had tried to press himself further into the corner he braced himself against when the grey-blue blob began to move, a strangled whimper leaving him as he watched the other creep into uis bed. Why was the creature melting onto his bed?? Was he trying to find food? Taste whatever he lect behind, see if he's worth digesting?! He didn't know, and it surely stressed him out further, just thinking about that possibility. But, when the other began to slowly take shape and color, he watched in a deep, unsettled confusion as the other took on the features of his species-- the large ears, the unique markings that displayed emotion, the fur and hind-leg shape, he had to rub his eyes free of tears. What the *hell* was he seeing right now??
When the other spoke, he jumped, looking startled further, and with those calming pheromones coming his way, he hated how effective they were. *He didn't want to be calm right now, not when he didn't know if this creature would eat him or not!!* "I-Izuku.... Izuku Midoriya...." He replied, before swallowing thickly. "Th-they've only given me needle-sticks with weird medicine, o-or taken blood.... B-but you...." He didnt know how to say this without seeming rude, possibly inciting anger. "Y-you're like.... L-like the a-amorphous predators on my planet, but.... Th-they don't change shape, or talk.... I-I thought they were feeding me to you...." He admitted, before rubbing his eyes again, frustrated by the tears in the super fine fur on his cheeks.
"H-how are you.... Like me, now?" He asked, curiosity slowly overshadowing his, honestly reasonable, anxiety. "What are you able to do? D-do you know how to.... Well, b-be my species, I guess? Just, naturally?" He asked then, noting the constant stream of calming pheromones again. All the same, he soon curled up in a seated fetal position, hugging his knees to help ease the discomfort in his abdomen. Why did the cramps have to return now? "H-how long will you be like me....?"
-----
As he'd expected, the poor thing's panic increased when he started to move, but he had little choice in the matter. He would just have to hurry so as to minimize the stress he was causing. As soon as he had absorbed as much as he could find, he was forming up and spooking the poor thing further. Thankfully, that gave way to confusion rather than outright panic. He could still scent the fear in the air, but it was lessening with each passing moment.
"Izuku Midoriya..." He echoed back, almost as if tasting the name. "It's a very nice name, I'll be sure to tell them so they can call you that. I'm sure they could say a name like that too, not all of us are so lucky. Ah. So shots and blood work. Hm... Were probably supplementing his diet after taking blood work as they clumsily tried to figure out a diet for him. Experimentation didn't usually start till they understood the entity they had in their possession, at least the basics, anyway. Now that they had him to communicate with him, this step would go faster, for better or worse.
"Oh? There are things that look like me in your world? Well, I can promise you that I don't like to eat anything capable of thinking so I've no interest in eating you. You can relax, I won't hurt you and I won't let anyone else do it either, not while I'm here." He had to think about his next answer, however. Not everyone grasped his nature, no matter how simple his explanation. Sometimes they just couldn't understand the nature of something so very different from themselves.
"I found a little hair on your bed so I will probably be able to hold this shape for about an hour. Maybe more, depending on how much energy I burn. These take a lot out of you, don't they..." He asked, trailing his fingertips down along the length of one of his own ears which was indeed still trying to actively calm the other. "I have learned a lot about you from what I absorbed on your bed. It's why I know how to be one of you. For as long as I hold this shape, I can do anything you can."
He finally got off the bed, chancing getting closer though he was careful to move slowly so as not to stress him further. He sniffed at the air curiously, glancing down at his pelvis before making eye contact again. Apparently, this race could change sex when they needed to, but it was no easy task. He would need more energy to do this. He was too thin. "What do you like to eat? I know how what you ate on your world so I will be able to help the bastards in white to feed you, but it would be good to know what your favorite things are too. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Izuku?"
-----
Izuku nodded softly as Neito had repeated and commented on his name, and nodded softly, still naturally wary.... But, at least he was calming down a decent amount. As the possible remaining remnant of his kind in existence, it wasn't hard to be an anxious wreck, especially while getting poked and prodded at. It was a harrowing experience, not only witnessing the massacre of his people, but also being forced by his natural biology to shift in the hipes of repopulation, despite there being no real evidence they would be compatible at all.
But, as he listened to the blonde, he grew.... Trusting, or at least something similar. It could just be the pheromones, but there was also the fact the other was calm, wasn't posing as a threat to the poor lapine alien. Even if it felt weird to have the other promise not to eat poor Izuku just because he was sentient. But.... The additional promise to protect him made his heart flutter treacherously, and there was a soft, faint puff of returned calming pheromone from his own temder ears.
As the other answered how he was able to transform so easily, utilise the ears they shared, he nodded softly, even if he was still.... Blown away by it all. When the other mentioned the ears, he nodded softly. "I-it is supposed to replace running until our legs give out from exhaustion if we can't run from whatever we seem a threat...." Thus, why he was so, so tragically thin and troublesome for the scientists. "Sure, we have claws on our paws, but...." He flexed his, surprisingly large toebeans, only for a severely dull set of claws to barely manage to peek out of the fur there. "I-Im think they clipped my claws off before I woke up in here, and.... W-with my body having different priorities...." He frowned as he hugged his knees tighter, head hanging low. "Th-theyre not growing back.... O-or.... Or maybe they did something to me so they wouldn't, e-even after the change finishes...."
He instinctively squeaked and flinched when Monoma got off the bed, beginning to approach him, but he didn't try to press away or tried to use his ears again. He flushed in shame as he saw the other pointedly glanced over him-- at his pelvis-- then back up to his face. When asked what he really enjoyed eating, he blinked, and cursed how his shifting body ached and heart fluttered again in his chest. "I.... Um.... I-I really liked the fruits of my planet-- O-one of the others brought me a fuzzy and sweet fruit for me-- it was.... Pink and orange on the outside, and had yellow meat with a hard pit in the middle. They didn't let me eat the pit." He wondered why, but he had a feeling it might not be safe. "I-I also like fish, and red meats!! Uh.... But, if it's the red meat, it has to be bloody after being cooked, or at least juicy.... I cant eat if meat is dry." He shuddered softly, before a rude, *loud* growl erupted from his stomach. "O-oh.... It's probably getting close to feeding time.... Or I used too much energy...." He frowned, before looking up at the other, nervous, afraid of the possible answer he hoped he wouldnt hear.
".... Wh-what do they want with me? Th-the people in those white coats-- a-are.... Are they going to cut me open?" The poor creature looked so, so broken and scared after finally uttering those questions, as if he believed that would be his fate before he even got his answer. "I-I'm the last.... I-I'm the only one that escaped that murder ship....!!" He hiccuped, before soon sobbing, tugging at his ears weakly with his face hidden behind them. "Th-they stole our ears-- th-then they...." He sobbed out, unable to form another word as those horrible memories came crashing down onto him. He was the last, the true, tragic remainder of his species.
-----
Slowly the other calmed and he got to experience the same calming effect he was putting off. Oh, that did admittedly feel nice. "I see. So they are meant as a last line of defense. I'm sure these ears are used for a lot in your culture though, not just that. I only get basic obvious things from DNA with a little extra here and there. It takes some effort to put together language in particular as that's a very complex thing. The base biological functions come through clear, but culture... Less so," he explained, more to keep the conversation going than feeling the need to explain himself.
Peering down at his trimmed claws, he nodded a little. "I haven't heard of anything like that being done here. Your body probably has things it deems more important than growing back your claws quickly. You'll be fine, don't worry. If you can convince them you're no harm to them, they probably won't even bother clipping them again in the future. Well... Unless you need it." When the subject turned to food he was thankfully offered several bits of information to pass on. "Ah. They call it a <peach>. The pit is deadly poisonous, don't chew or eat it. The fruit itself is perfectly safe to eat though, the skin too." He chuckled softly as the other's stomach announced that it would very much like to be fed. He was about to get up to resolve that issue when the subject of their conversation took a sharp turn.
His smile faded and his heart sunk as he listened to the other, chest growing tight as he revealed his past. That all did explain why he was so very afraid here. He hesitated for a moment before taking a chance, drawing in close and very gently slipping his arms around the other. He held him close, shuffling himself around so he boxed him into the corner, protecting him from the rest of the world. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold his shape for as long, but he burned the energy to double down on his pheromones in hopes of calming him. He needed to reassure him, but he also didn't want to lie to him either... He sighed, but forced himself to speak.
"The people in coats are scientists. They work for a group that protects this world. They're very defensive and dangerously curious. With that said, they don't want you dead. If they cut you open, it's because they failed to keep you alive. I can promise you they won't take your ears while you live. They want to know more about you and will do what they can to find out as much as they can. They don't care how you feel about it. It's easier if you do what you're told. I don't, but it is easier if you do." Gently he nuzzled the other's hair, rubbing his back. "I'm not sure if it's possible to escape from this place, but I haven't managed yet. If you're good, this could be a good home for you. They'll take care of you all the same."
-----
When Monoma hazarded a guess about the cultural uses of his ears, Izuku did perk up, if only slightly. "We also use them and our cheeks for scent-claiming-- be it mates, young, or even adopted family or close friends. Those unmated let out a sweeter scent during the seasonal heats, and even sweeter still if they're truly compatible. I think the red-haired person smelled nice, under whatever strong scent he wears.... But you smell nice, too." He admitted, blushing faintly. "I dunno if that's part of your abilities or not, though." He thoight a moment, before looking up to the other. "We also have unique bioluminescent markings, though its more of a mood thing, with us glowing brightly in the dark if we're really, really happy, or.... Truly interested in a potential mate. Sometimes we have enough control to make the light pulse in patterns, show off a bit in the hopes to get the mate we want. But, in the end, it's clear to see which pairs are really going at it by light alone from insode their homes...." He trailed off, his expression growing sad.
At the assurances, he calmed down a bit more, flexing his toes softly, longingly almost. "We normally are able to keep them at reasonable lengths from climbing into our homes in the trees-- well, mostly healthy folks. Some homes were on the ground for the weak, recovering, terribly young or elderly. Those who couldn't climb used volcanic rock with super fine pits, either in small palm stones, or slabs nearby their beds so they could sit and scratch them down comfortably if they couldn't bend over safely." When Monoma explained what a peach was, he nodded, though he was a bit bashful as the other seemed mildly amused by his rudely growling stomach.
But, alas, that tender moment faded as he explained what had happened, revealing why he was so terribly scared, defensive around the men in white coats. He flinched when Monoma approached further, but when he felt securely boxed in, held tenderly in a show of compassion, he wept hard, loudly as he let it all out, all while clinging to the other. He'd been so, so alone, scared for so long, afraid of fading away into obscurity, his race erased by one group's cruel greed. As the slime began to explain the people that ran this scary place, he hiccuped, and nodded solemnly in understanding. He wanted to believe Monoma when he promised that he wouldn't suffer like his kin had, wanted to believe he'd live as long a life he could in a place like this. He didn't know if he'd live long, even if he gained the proper weight, really. His kind were deeply social-- needed more than the seemingly few hours of interaction he recieved from the labcoats who were only there to either take blood or feed him, or at least try to learn about him in some way.
"I-I don't know if I can c-call this home.... I-its too white, feels.... F-feels exposed, e-even if its just a box...." He sniffled, his dull nails softly digging into the borrowed fur on the other's back. "I'm scared.... Th-they'll let me see you again though, right?" He asked, soon looking up at him, his large, glossy eyes looking desperately into the other's with a clear expression of loneliness. "I-I can't handle beong alone.... Th-there used to be so many of us-- a-at least four to a home.... B-being alone hurts...." He sobbed, bowing his head again. "I-I don't want to be alone...."
-----
He shrugged lightly with a smile. "If I smell nice, then I smell nice. I didn't go out of my way to alter my scent so this is just the one I naturally have in this form." He admitted honestly. "You are bioluminescent? This room must be too bright for you then. I'll talk to them to lower the lights." He chuckled softly as the explanations of some more of his culture was revealed. "You live in high places too. I can feel that, but I wasn't sure if you just felt safer in trees or lived up there. I don't know how much bigger they will allow your enclosure to be, but I will talk to them about that too."
He had so many things to tell the humans, least of all the confirmation of their suspicions that the alien was sentient. It was something they'd assumed as he'd arrived on a space ship, but there was the possibility that he was sent by something else and was just an animal. He was so far from that... Worse still, they were apparently a very social race. This could present a bit of a problem. Needless to say, they had no other members of his race. He knew that this was going to be one of his major projects now, but he knew he wouldn't be around nearly enough from the sound of things.
"You'll see me again, don't worry. They want to get to know you and for the moment, I'm the only one that can talk to you. I don't know how they'll handle your loneliness, but I'll make the argument for you." He held him that might tighter, even starting to rock him gently. Socialization was clearly important, but it was made difficult with a language barrier like this. He would have to teach Izuku how to speak Japanese so that the humans could understand him as he knew only a couple might try to learn to speak the greenette's language. They would want to document it, sure, but actually learning to speak it was a different matter, worse if anything directly involved scenting.
"Listen... I'm going to let go so I can tell them to bring you food, but I'm not going to leave, okay? Do you want to come with me or do you want to stay here? I'm just going to go over there." He explained, pointing to the intercom panel on the wall next to the observation mirror.
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"Well, you do smell really good.... Clean, like the morning after the rain in a dense forest nearing the beginning of winter." Izuku explained softly, hoping he didn't sound odd as he described the other. "The light does hurt my eyes and head at times-- we dont see direct sunlight often unless there's an opening in the canopy-- maybe a muted green or deep blue- based light would be best? If that's not possible, dimming the light would be okay, too." He suggested, hoping that things would be more comfortable soon. "As far as the size of the room, if it's at least tall enough to climb into a nest, mayne with some plants, too, it'll be leagues better than what I have now.... Color would be nice." He smiled sadly, before gently shaking it off.
When told Monoma would come back as often as he could, and try to find a way to mitigate his loneliness, he let out a soft, shaky sigh of relief, comforted with that assurance, even if he knew it may be a while before he would feel okay, if he ever would. "I-I know some of us used to take in small animals that seemed to like us a l-lot for one reason or anothe.... Some of u-us had lizards, amphibians, and some small fluffy mammals.... B-before what happened, I was attempting to make a small lizard like me. H-he was a pretty red, had big eyes, a thick tail, and sticky little hands.... I-I hope he's okay.... " Izuku offered, hoping he may be allowed a pet if nothing else as far as socialization. "There was also a large mammal with bristles that seemed to wait at my tree every night, and he'd yell at me for attention. It ate a fair amount of bugs and fruits, and had the softest underbelly ever, though, it liked tackling me and then trying to nap on me." He laughed softly, remembering his more fond memories.
When the slime told him he was about to go get Izuku food, the greenette sniffled as he nodded softly, wanting to come along. It felt too nice to be held, and he didn't want to separate entirely for too long if he could avoid it. He didn't like how the odd panel on the wall was so close to the mirrored window, though. He's never liked it-- between the first few nights that he thought he saw someone from his tribe, or even his mother, only to weep, to how it almost always felt like he was being watched, never having a moment of privacy.
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Soft grey-blue eyes blinked lightly at the description of his scent, a warm, happy feeling welling up inside of him. "That... That sounds wonderful. The way you describe things is very beautiful." He added, not even noticing the faint glow in his own markings, almost impossible to see in the harsh light. He nodded a little, having noticed the strain in his own eyes, but he wasn't sure just how little light the species preferred. "Green or blue, got it. I'll see what they can do about making things more comfortable for you. A high up nest and a light change would be easy, but bigger changes might take some time. There is a... How to explain it...? A structure. A hierarchy. Everything they do has to be approved and some stuff is easier to get approval for than others. I'll push them."
"A pet? That's another approval problem, but it shouldn't be impossible." He wasn't exactly sure what he would be able to manage to convince them to give him, but he would try all the same. At least he seemed happy remembering his animal friends so those would definitely help if they could get them. It was a bit of a bandaid, but still. Even then, it wasn't likely to come very quickly. They would have to come up with some other system to fill in the space between. "It'll get better soon, that much I'm sure of." He assured, knowing very well that the ones that behave often get better treatment. Izuku seemed like the kind that would behave.
He nodded in return and stood himself up, helping the alien up to his paws as well. Then, hand in hand, he walked him over to the panel and motioned towards it and the three buttons it has. "This red one is for emergencies which is why it's covered. You have to lift the cover to press it. Don't press it unless it's really important or they might disconnect it then when you actually have an emergency it won't work. This yellow one is to call for someone. There's always someone awake, but not always someone watching you specifically. This will get whoever that's there to send someone to check on you, if there isn't someone there. I know there's people there now because letting me in with you is an experiment in of itself so they want to record everything that we do. The green one is to talk to them." He sighed, looking blandly at the mirror then more softly to Izuku again.
"Here, you can do it yourself. I'll tell them in more detail what you want, but it's good practice." He then went on to gently teach him the words for 'hungry', 'thirsty', 'bath', 'lonely', and 'bored' as these would cover his basic needs for right now. "Go on. Give it a try!"
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"R-really? I used to tell stories for the little ones whenever it was my turn to help supervise them all-- they all seemed to really like the tales I came up with, or newer retellings of old myths." He sighed gently then, before shaking away the sadness before they could begin again. However, it came more easily as he saw the other begin to faintly glow, even if only for a short few moments, making Izuku's own lights glow in kind. However, when told some things would be changed sooner and or more readily than others, he understood, and he did his best not to get his hopes too high. Unless Monoma had more sway than he let on, it would be a long while before he would be comfortable, he assumed.
Another approval problem, huh? But, Monoma was going to try for him, Izuku was happy for that at least. "Okay.... If they can't give me a real pet, I can handle a toy one, at least for a while? At least something I can hold close for comfort?" He offered, hoping he could at least get that first if it would be a while, if ever, that he'd get a companion animal to tend to and keep his mind off of his situation. Just.... Something to help fill the void, if only a little bit, whenever he didn't have Monoma over to visit.
The greenette listened as the other explained the buttons on the panel, nodding as the details were given. He hoped his emergencies wouldn't be deemed as inconsequential to his.... Captors. It's rare, but he has had panic attacks on the past, struggled for air as his stomach knotted, blood chilled with a fear he couldn't control, mind spinning, blank, unable to shake free without help, grounding him once more. Izuku looked to the mirror as it was addressed as 'them', and he wilted, stomach uneasy. So, he wasn't imagining being watched, huh?
As Monoma began to teach him a few words, he recited them as best he could-- he struggled a bit with syllable stressing only on the first of each word, but it at least by the time he was encouraged to try, he was able to be vaguely understood. He pressed the green button on the wall, before saying "hungry" into the speaker, his voice nervous, his accent lightly trilling the vowels despite his best attempts to be clearer. "D-did I say it right, Monoma?" He asked, button still pressed.