Chapter Text
Chapter 1
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Swiveling her neck side to side Noriko tried to work the kinks our of her stiff, tired muscles. The summer heat was just now starting to dissipate, making way for the cooler autumn nights, the leaves not yet changing to the rainbow of fall colors. The sun was slowly slipping behind the mountain, her work about to start for the night. Dressed in black leather pants, a purple tank top, and her thick leather jacket she slowly made her way to the dive bar downtown. Noriko had a job to do and damn did she love when it paid off. Serve and protect, any cop worth their salt knew that motto and lived it every day. The really good ones had that motto ingrained into every cell of their body, taking pride in being the first line between those needing protection and the less than pleasant things the world had to offer.
The job Noriko did was dangerous at the best of times, going undercover could get a good officer killed in a flash with just one wrong move. She wasn’t stupid enough to think the rings in the city were any safer than any of the other undercover gigs she could have been assigned to however. Fuck in some respects her job made her as much a target to those she was there to save as she was to those that she was there to lock away as long as the law would allow. It had only been about a month since she was put on the bitty unit of the Ebott police force, before that she had worked busting up drug rings by getting on the inside, Noriko had a knack for getting in good with the seedy characters that thrived in the illegal world. Her talent letting her win over the most hard nosed criminals without much effort, proving to her boss what an asset she could be.
Bitties were something of a controversial issue in Ebott, with the law unclear if the small creatures should be classed as pets or as simply very small monsters. Because of that controversy the poor things fell into sort of a gray area of the law, leaving room for things like illegal breeders, black market sellers, and the damn fighting rings. Well that was till about two months ago when a new law passed giving bitties all the same rights as monsters, that led to the formation of the bitty task force and started Noriko's new role with the force. Now she just needed to keep working her magic, get on the inside and bust it all wide open to save as many of the tiny monsters as she could.
It had taken Noriko three weeks to find the contact she was set to meet tonight, three weeks of digging through the trash of society to finally find an in into the rings and start her real job. She was early for her scheduled meet with a low level thug from one of the rings, walking through the streets on her way to one of the worst bars in Ebott, a trashy little place that catered to the lowest of the low. As she neared downtown, the sun had set and the street lights came on. Walking down one of the many back streets that would eventually lead to Duke's bar, she heard a noise coming from an ally to her right. Turning to see what the noise was she was greeted by a fairly average looking dead end ally, the sides lined by boxes and other cast off debris. About half way down the alley stood a green dumpster that had seen better days, rust peeking through the chipped paint and more dents than she thought were allowed by the sanitation commission.
Beside the dumpster on the far side Noriko saw the back end of a rather large looking dog, some mixed up mutt with so many breeds it was impossible to tell just what breeds made up the creatures genetics, though with how matted and patchy the fur was… she wasn’t even sure she would be able to tell a pure bread dog in the same condition. She always had a soft spot for animals, probably always would, so heaving a deep sigh she cast aside self preservation and trudged into the alleyway intent on seeing what she could do to help the stray, maybe catch the mutt and drop it off at a vet before making it to Duke’s in time for the meet up, that was if she could catch it. As she drew closer she noticed the animal was intent on getting to something, the fur along the dogs back raised in a ridge as it growled at something by the dumpster, at least wasn’t matted to much to move. Drawing a deep breath she crept closer to the animal, hoping that she didn’t get attacked for her trouble she called out sweetly to the mutt in an attempt to get its attention.
“Hey pup, come on sweetie let’s get you somewhere warm for the night.” As Noriko’s voice rang out in the alley she did manage to catch the dogs attention, it’s already straining body twitching as it began to turn toward her. As it lost focus on whatever it had been going after there was a sudden flash of purple light from beside the dumpster, the mutt Jenkins with a whimper and bolting toward her to get away from whatever the light was as it bolted past her. A curse leaving her lips as she missed catching the dog by a hair, a sigh leaving her in her frustration.
Shaking her head as the mutt bound down the side street and out of view Noriko turned towards the dumpster to see what the light had been. Walking swiftly and quietly up to the dumpster she puts her hand on the cold grimy metal to keep her balance, her nose assaulted by the putrid mix of whatever lay inside the trash receptacle, some blend that just smelled like death and decay in the end. Bending around the side of the dumpster, using it as a sort of shield in case whatever sent the dog running decided to attack her. Her deep brown, almost black eyes going wide at the sight before her, a small skeleton stood there, ribs heaving as it panted for breath as purple sweat dripped along its skill down to the tattered rags covering its tiny body. A gasp escaping her lungs as she locks her gaze with the flashing purple lights in the sockets of the small skeleton.
The material Noriko had been given for her new job hadn’t prepared her for this, she knew what a bitty was. She knew that they where small versions of the monsters that had escaped from Mt. Ebott about ten years ago, what she hadn’t expected was to see this small skeleton, its visible bones covered in nicks and cuts, dirt clinging and making the white more of a gray. As the bitty noticed her and looked up she saw the lights in its sockets go fuzzy and flicker before bony lids fluttered over and the poor thing collapsed to the filthy pavement. Gasping once more Noriko whipped her jacket off before scooping up the passed out bitty and wrapping it in the warmth of the silk and leather. Clutching the poor thing to her chest with a sigh she fished in her pocket for her phone before dashing out of the alley and down the side street, pulling up the contact she was supposed to be meeting to let them know she was going to need to reschedule as there had been an emergency that she needed to take care of. Her feet carrying her down the streets to the bitty center that she had memorized the location of for her job, this was not how the night was supposed to go, though she was glad that she knew where to take the tiny skeleton for help.
Mama Cry's was the premier in bitty care and adoption, at least that’s what Noriko's boss told her during training for this assignment. Walking into the small shop she was greeted by a round of hellos from the bitties that were still moving about in the pens near the front of the center, the sheer verity of different bitties was a bit surprising. There was a fair selection of different skeletons, some taller than others, there were those with red lights in their sockets, others has white or blue, even one sort of like the one she held in her jacket that had purple. However that one had really sharp teeth unlike the one clutched to her chest.
“Greetings, welcome to Mama Cry's how can I help you today?” a sweet female voice drew Noriko's attention from looking over the bitties in the pen, her brown gaze falling on a rather tall rabbit monster.
“Erm yeah I found this little one in an alley being pestered by a dog, I don’t know what happened but I’m afraid the dog hurt them.” Shifting from foot to foot as the monster approached, Noriko was quite worried for the little bitty she had found.
“Oh dear, would you mind handing them here. The street is a terrible place for the little dears, you said there was a dog after them?” reaching out to take the little bundle from Noriko, the monster folded back the edge of the jacket to get a better look at the bitty.
“Yeah I was down town and heard a noise, when I went to investigate there was a rather large dog that had the bitty cornered by a dumpster. At first I had thought the dog had found some food by the dumpster and was going to see if I could grab it and get it to the shelter or one of the local vets, however when I got the dog's attention there was a flash of purple light and the dog ran off. I was concerned over what had made the light so I proceeded forward to check, if something dangerous was there I couldn’t leave it be and needed to know what needed to be reported. Upon checking I found the bitty who promptly collapsed, sadly I only have a rudimentary knowledge from my training so I brought them here to be sure they are okay.” As Noriko spoke she clasped her hands behind her back, falling into the same practices as giving a report at the station.
“The poor dear seems to have been through quite a lot, would you mind if I take him back to the back to treat him?” Looking to Noriko with worry, the monster started to shift as though she was heading to the back. Mild panic striking through Noriko's heart, not wanting to loose sight of the bitty.
“Erm… if it’s okay would you mind if I come with?” A look of understanding crosses the monsters face, a soft smile crossing her lips at Noriko's words as the rabbit monster’s nose twitches.
“That should be fine, while I work on being sure the poor dear is well I can also answer any questions you may have and perhaps you can answer a few of my own.” Leading the way through a swinging door in the back of the center, the monster shows Noriko to a room set up as a sort of clinic. The room held a tall table that was a clean stainless steel like one would see in a vet’s office, though it was covered in a soft towel that eased some more of Noriko’s nerves. The walls held the standard cupboards and counters one would expect from a clinic room, though some of the things around the room were not what she was used to seeing in exam rooms. The most glaring differences were the tiny furniture that was set in a cute cluster like a waiting room in the corner of one of the counters, another being the glass bottles of different colored glowing liquids.
“Thank you, like I said I only know the basics. I really should know more about bitties though, so your assistance would be a great help if you don’t mind.” Standing by the examination table, Noriko watches as the monster gently unwrapped the jacket from around the bitty.
“No trouble dear, after all it is part of my job to educate. So, what questions can I answer for you?” Placing a paw like hand over the chest of the bitty, the monster makes a small motion drawing back, her motion followed by the appearance of a silvery gray, upside down heart, shining weakly above the small skeletons chest.
“What is that?” Pointing at the small heart, Noriko lost track of the other questions that she had been wanting to ask.
“That is his soul, the very culmination of his being. Every monster and human has a soul, bitties being small monsters does not change that they have a soul, it is simply harder for them to keep it strong on their own. This little guy seems to have used far too much of his magic, in addition to that it would appear that he has not had the easiest time staying safe and happy. Poor dear needs a magic infusion to get him back to something close to healthy, not much we can do for the old wounds however.” Sighing the monster turns to one of the cupboards behind her, pulling out a few items before turning back to Noriko and her patient.
“You said he needs others to help keep his soul strong… what exactly does that mean?” watching as the monster gently opened the bitty's mouth open, Noriko was fascinated to see the glowing liquid in the vial vanish as it slid past the small skeleton’s teeth.
“Ah well you see… hmm how best to explain… as I said the soul is the very culmination of one’s being, it is hopes, dreams, fears, emotion in its purest form. It is the seat of one’s energy and magic. Monsters and bitties are formed of magic so our souls are far more vulnerable, humans while having a soul are mostly matter. Because souls are in essence us, it is through them we make connections to those around us. From the small connection such as our current conversation to the deepest connection of a soul bond, those connections strengthen our souls, feed our magic and makes us stronger. While a human can go throughout their entire life not even knowing about their soul, and a monster can live with minimal connections, bitties are vastly more susceptible to a drain on their soul if they have no connections. Though a strong connection with a much stronger soul, or many connections with other bitty souls would help to stabilize and strengthen any bitty soul.” As the monster spoke of souls and connections, Noriko watched as she took a tiny needle and pressed it against the small skeletons soul to push a glowing white substance into the tiny heart. At the press of the needle the little guy twitched causing Noriko’s heart to clench in a mix of sympathy and concern.
“So the bitty needs someone who cares about them? Someone to form some connection to them to feed them energy from their soul?” Still watching the rabbit monster work on the bitty, Noriko tilted her head in question.
“Yes dear he certainly does, while he can form connections with other bitties to survive, to be truly health and strong he would be better served by at least one connection to a larger being, human or monster, though humans have far stronger souls.” Finished administering the medication to the bitty ,the monster gently cups the tiny glowing heart of the bitty, a soft green enveloping her paw like hands as she answers Noriko’s questions.
Noriko stood there, watching the small skeleton’s face. Her thoughts tumbling over what she learned, she knew that till recently bitties had been classified as pets. Before her training for the undercover mission she knew next to nothing about the small beings, now she marveled at how strong they really were. How could something so small, so dependent on other living beings for the very energy in their souls survive. Hell how could they even survive in places like the illegal breeders where the little creatures were shoved in filthy cages and forced to make more little bitties? How could they survive the conditions of the fighting rings? Being forced to battle and hurt others of their kind. Noriko could feel her chest ache as she watched the exhausted little skeleton on the table, without being aware of intending to speak her voice filled the small clinic like room.
“I can’t leave him alone, if he needs a home he can stay with me… if he wants to that is.” Nerves rocked through Noriko as she realized what she had just volunteered for, she just started the new assignment to bust into the fighting rings. Now here she was with her eyes locked on an exhausted, unconscious bitty that she knew nothing about as she offered to take him into her home.
“That is very sweet of you dear, let us get him feeling well enough to see what he would like to do. From there I can assist you with his further care if he chooses to go with you.” The green glow from the monster's hands had disappeared, the ting soul of the bitty floating peacefully before she gently pressed it back into the small skeleton’s chest. “I’ve done what I can for him as far as healing for the time being, what he needs now is to be close to a stronger soul to draw energy, it isn’t the same as a true connection sadly. However having someone close to him will help him to gather more strength, would you perhaps want to hold him while I tend to other matters in the center? You can stay back here if you wish.” Glancing at the clock on the wall, the rabbit woman shifts a bit on her feet before looking between Noriko and the bitty on the examination table.
“Um yeah, I can hold him if you think it will really help.” Moving closer to the table, Noriko reaches out with shaking hands to gently lift the small skeleton from the table. Tentatively bringing him closer to her chest as she looked between him and the monster before receiving a nod from the monster.
Finding a chair by the wall of the clinic room, Noriko settles herself in, resigned that she may be there for a while. Glancing between the sleeping skeleton on her chest and the clock on the wall, she feels a small warmth blooming behind her ribs, a tiny smile forming on her face as the skeletal hands of the bitty grasp onto the cloth of her purple tank top as he nuzzles his skull against the fabric of her shirt. As the seconds tick by she watches the face of the little skeleton in her arms, a feeling somewhere between hope and protectiveness igniting within her. She had always found a sense of satisfaction in her work, taking the bad guys off the streets and protecting those that for one reason or another couldn’t protect themselves. Looking at the bitty nestled on her chest, his face nuzzling against her… this is what she was fighting for now, protecting the rights and freedoms of these small people that needed others to stay strong.