Chapter Text
“As much fun as it would be fighting together, the chief said, you'd be more useful as an undercover operative” Swift said. He looked a little disappointed. It was really weird to see him like this. I’ve always known him as the sweet pegasus with the dorky glasses. I’ve never seen him with his hair slicked back and windblown. Hell Before a few days ago I didn’t even think he could fly! He wore braces on his wings, and always opted out of P.E. Hell he wore a fucking sweater vest regularly!
So it was hard to see him as… this? In almost full body spandex with a stupid mask on. I’ve always just seen Slash like everybody else. Swift was Slash’s alter ego. I just I feel kind of stupid for not making the connection earlier. It seemed that while he didn’t need the wing braces, he actually does need glasses. But oh no, he can’t just wear regular bifocals, he needs whatever that hulking piece of glass was in front of his right eye. Why do supers need to have everything look high tech and fancey?
It always bugged me how much money they waste on these kinds of things, instead of actually focusing on the important details. That’s part of the reason that I didn’t come to the organization when I realized there was a problem. They’re all about reputation. So who knows what they would have done if some random high schooler, living in a rinky dink apartment came up to them and said, “Hey you know that one REALLY famous charity that helps fund research for dangerous diseases and other illnesses? Well they just happen to be doing some very not legal stuff with animals! What’s that you want proof? Yeah I saw it! You can definitely take my word for it!”
Yeah that would have gone down sooo well. So if I was to even consider asking for their help I had to collect some evidence. And that’s what I did. Small things at first wandering off during tours, Stalking the building during high profile nights. I had a pretty big collection of pictures and videos, that I thought were convincing enough. That’s all I did at first, but then one night when I was stalking the place out, there was a huge van that came in.
This was typical for these kinds of deliveries. It was usually just different medical supplies. Gurneys, dyphibralizers, clean syringes. Stuff that they donated to smaller clinics in more run down parts of the country. But tonight was different. There were cages and tanks covered in tarps being loaded into the building. I was taking as many pictures as I could. They had never been this careless before. This would be the smoking gun! All of this would be over. But then one of the tarps got blown off of a small tank and I could see the creatures inside of it. Crammed in were at least 10 different herps. There was a gecko desperately trying to climb above the calamity. There was a tiny little toad wallowing in the water dish. All the little creatures shoved into one small space was enough to make her blood boil. But the one thing that made her take action,
In the center of the cage was a small purple snake with a yellow diamond pattern trailing down the length of their back. They look to be a venomous species because of their triangular head and elliptical pupil. They looked like they were staring into her soul. Locked onto her, almost pleading for her to do something. And gosh darnit if she wasn’t a sucker for something like that.
Gods, what I did that night was so stupid. I wasn’t week by any standards but throwing a rock at the guards head? That was my plan?! Stupid! Though in my defence I was running off of two hours of sleep, after a full day of school and work, so my head probably wasn’t in the right place at the time. But I managed to snag the tank and all of the little guys inside.
When I had made it back to the apartment I was exhausted, I could have passed out right as I got close enough to my bed. But I couldn’t just leave all the little guys in the cramped tank. So I ran around the house looking for other containers for the. Keep in mind that this was at around two AM. I was pulling out a big plastic tupperware container from the cabinet, when my sister starts yelling into my ear.
“The fuck are you doing up so late” she grumbled at me. Her Bluish purple mane was messy and unkept giving me the impression she just hopped out of bed. She had a pink eye mask sloppily pushed up off her eyes. Oh boy.
“Oh shit sorry,” I say grabbing the container off of the ground, where I dropped it. “I was out gathering evidence earlier and-”
“You were out again?!” She cut in fiercely. ”You can’t keep doing that! I get that you want to help stop whatever is going on in there, but you have to take care of yourself more!” Her wings spread out in a flaring gesture. I remained silent for a moment. This wasn’t the first time Cam and I had, had this conversation. I knew that she was concerned but I was trying to focus on something that was bigger than myself. I took in a big breath, and let it out in a sigh.
“Look Cam, I know you’re worried but I’m so close. Just a little bit longer and this will all be over.” I look to the side and let out a little chuckle “Uh, there’s also something I need to take care of that you should probably see?” My cheeks turn up in a crooked smile. It’s something I got into the habit of doing when I’m in an uncomfortable situation.
“Oh gods, what did you do?” She asks running a hoof down her face and letting her wings droop. I held up my hooves defensively.
“Hey, give me a little credit. I promise you it’s not as bad as it looks” I started to lead her back to my room.
As I step through the doorway I can hear Cam grumble something under her breath. Something about it being too early to deal with my shit.
I let off a slight chuckle, before my nerves start to get to me. I take a deep breath and move out of the way so she can see, the several containers on my desk.
“You didn’t,” she says eyes widening.
“Ok-ok I know what you’re thinking and yes, I know that this probably wasn’t the best idea, but I couldn’t just leave them there-”
“You said that you were just going to collect evidence!” she exclaimed, the feathers on her shoulders and neck bristling.
“And I did” I say smiling again. I can feel a drop of sweat run down the side of my face.
“JUST PICTURES SERPENTINE!” she shouts at me, wings outstretched. “Oh fuck we’re in so much trouble” Cam mumbles covering her mouth with one of her wings.
“Cam relax. we’re not in trouble,” I insist “Just think about it, for us to get in trouble they’de have to notice that these little guys are missing first,” I motion to the various herptiles on my desk. Cam doesn’t look convinced.“Hey and if they want to take any legal action, then everyone would know about the things they’re doing with these guys.” She looks up at me with tired eyes. Finally she lets out a sigh.
“Alright, I just... I hope you know what you’re doing...” she trails off.
“Trust me Cam I can handle it” I tell her as i walk towards the various tanks and containers spread across my desk. Most of the creatures had already been placed in their separate environments. All except for a greenish brown gecko and a snake sharing the same tank. I figure that the snake would probably prefer the tank to I decide to move the gecko to the plastic container.
I considered using my magic to take the gecko out of the tank but I know that could be very stressful compared to handling it normally. And the snake hasn't moved a muscle since i set the tank down, and so far has been apathetic to me pulling out the other herptiles from the crowded tank. So I felt like my best option would have been to just free handle the gecko.
What happened after that is still kind of a blur to me. I remember getting the gecko to climb on my hoof, and lifting it out of the tank. Then there was a flash of purple and yellow, and a searing pain in my arm. I think I passed out at one point, but Cam didn’t take me to the hospital, I was grateful. There was no way we could have handled that bill.
Next thing I know I’m lying on my bed and I feel really cold. At this point I thought I was dead. But I opened my eyes to see the white pegasus crying at the foot of my bed.
“Cam?” I say groggily. She perks up immediately,
“Oh My Fuck you’re ok!” she gasps out, jumping on to me and wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Yeah, yeah I’m good” I replied hugging her back.
“Good” she took in a breath, “YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE” she screamed at me and punched my shoulder.
“Ow”
“YOU SAID YOU COULD HANDLE IT!” she hissed at me.
“For the most part” I add quietly, a cheeky grin sliding up my face. There was that nervous habit again. My smile fell, when I realized what happened.
“Wait where’s the gecko?!” I say as my eyes dart around the room.
“You just passed out from a snake bite and your first thought is where the gecko is?!”
“Seriously Cam, do you know where it is?” I say looking her in the eye.
“Relax, it scurried up the wall when you passed out, and I put it in that container- ” she motioned to the plastic container on my desk with her wing “ after I fixed you up.” I glanced at my arm where I felt the bite… There was a bandaid over it.
“I got bitten by a snake, and you decided to put a bandaid over it?” I ask, a smirk reaching my face once again.
“Well what else was I supposed to do?!?” she blasted at me. “I’m not exactly a doctor!” a few giggles leave my mouth.
“Fair enough”
I felt another cold wave come over me and I started to shiver. “Fwoooo, g-getting a little draf-fty in here h-huh?” my soft blue magic illuminated as I pulled my comforter closer to me to rid myself of the chilling sensation. “D-did you open a window or s-something?”
“Uuuugh, no? I don’t think so.” the pegasus answered as she looked around the room for a possible opening. “Are you feeling alright? I don’t see how a draft could be getting in -as shitty as are apartment is- and it doesn’t feel any colder to me.”
“Really? It’s n-not any colder to y-you?” a shiver crawled up my spine. And then I was starting to feel really sleepy…