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blametheeditor · 2 years ago

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The Expense Of Trust | Chapter 1

Anomalies and Incident Reports

Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of death and murder. Mentions of others being lesser than. Intent to kill. Death by anomaly. Darker themes and tone.

Run Down: In the instant of a site-wide containment breach, there are only a few protocols available to follow. Know the right people, hope to be at the right place at the right time, and whatever you do, don't trust anything.

Well, well, well

__________________________________

“Have you been keeping David in line?”

“You mean have I been keeping Fritz out of trouble?”

“Yes to both questions, James,” Fritz grins, quick to wipe it away before David can spot it and threaten to report for insubordination. He really never knows when the senior researcher will actually follow through on requesting a change for an assistant. “There haven’t been any experiments that required him to put on a lab coat.”

“Thank goodness,” has David glaring at the phone currently on speaker, the sarcasm in James’ voice loud and clear. There’s also a few sounds of shouting in the background, but neither of them comment. “How would he ever survive?”

“It’s not my fault your idiotic institution has dumbass rules.”

Fritz wisely decides not to join in on reminding the tall man never seen wearing anything but a full piece suit why a lab coat is required. He doesn’t need a lecture about how it’s a crime forcing such clothing to be covered by such a gaudy accessory. Not with James ensuring he sighs loud enough there’s no mistaking it. “Oh no, you’re so right, David. Getting acid spilt on you and damaging your suit that way is much better than protecting it and yourself for the sake of aesthetics. Remind me, what are you two doing right now?”

David sends a look that says Fritz will cover for him, or the redheaded teenager is going to regret it, especially when they don’t have a specific date for when James will return to protect him from the senior researcher’s wrath.

Fritz glances around the room they had been assigned to today. With David standing in the corner by the door, his phone sitting on a nearby table. Almost directly opposite, the teenager stands at the sterilized counter beside a sealed glovebox that takes up a majority of the space.

Good news, technically David doesn’t need a lab coat right now considering the substance they’re testing is already safely inside the chamber. Bad news, he’s being a terrible role model for following safety procedures.

“He’s safely out of the contamination area,” Fritz offers.

“At this point people will begin to genuinely ask how you ever became qualified to be a senior researcher,” James remarks.

“Well certain people should stay out of other’s business when it doesn’t concern them,” David growls.

“I can’t help but feel like that was a jab toward me.”

“Of course it was a jab toward you!”

Fritz quickly hides his laughter as the two continue to fight, focusing back on the task at hand. Putting on gloves and goggles before starting only a few basic tests on what had been described to them as a chemical produced by SCP-8202 that’s more of just an unknown variable rather than a harmful one.

Honestly, he’s kind of curious how David and James became such good friends. Despite the hostility, the tactical response officer on the other end of the phone is called almost weekly, if not daily depending on what managed to annoy David enough that he needed to demand support. And it’s usually because someone brought up the lack of him wearing anything for safety.

The best part is James doesn’t tell the senior researcher to stop, or to lower the amount, despite the fact they all know he is currently working an active mission of containing an anomaly offsite. The soft shouts from before has turned into larger amounts, and yet the argument still continues. There really never it any anger unless David is actively distracting him and refuses to hang up when things get...chaotic.

David’s never been the cause of a mission failing, or of someone getting hurt. But James has been pretty good at balancing entertaining his friend, and ensuring he knows that as good as the officer is at his job, he’s not an all-powerful being who can make everything wrong with the world vanish with the snap of his fingers.

Fritz jumps as a siren suddenly blares. He actively attempts to set the breaker in his hand down carefully despite the uncontrollable shaking, but there’s no denying the terror snaking its way into his mind. Panick almost wanting to make him throw the fragile object despite it containing a still fairly unknown chemical just to get out, get to safety, he has to-!

The redhead curls in on himself when he feels two hands on his shoulders, stopping his frantic movements. He takes a moment to take a few deep breaths before looking up at David’s flat expression. At least there’s no anger.

“It’s not to alert us there’s been a containment breach,” David begins. “This one is to let everyone know they’re doing a controlled transfer to get an SCP to another facility.”

It takes a moment for the words to sink in, to latch onto ‘controlled transfer’. Hesitate at the fact the siren doesn’t sound like the one to signal the immediate need to evacuate, a lot softer and with a different pitch than the one he heard during orientation. Suddenly feels embarrassed by his reaction.

“S-Sorry,” Fritz murmurs. He finally manages to carefully set down the beaker before withdrawing his hands from the box.

David frees him, but instead of demanding they begin the report with the few things Fritz accomplished, the tall man motions to the door. “Let’s go watch it.”

Fritz will admit he completely froze out of pure terror. At the thought at getting anywhere near an anomaly outside of containment, whether or not it’s controlled with multiple personnel ensuring nothing goes wrong. “W-Watch it?”

“It’ll be safe. The message I got this morning even encouraged us to watch.”

“It will be completely safe, Fritz,” James pipes up. “You should check it out, even for just a second.”

Now Fritz feels humiliated rather than embarrassed. The two teaming up due to knowing why he reacted to both the siren and the suggestion in such a way. It’s even worse James understood what happened despite being on a phone call. Fritz almost regrets admitting a little bit about why he’s an assistant researcher for the Foundation.

...James has never been malicious, though. If anything, David figured out real quick that the redhead would be the only thing that’d lower his anger if, say, there was a call right as the officer was about to capture an anomaly before it literally blew up in his face.

And despite the superior outer shell, David’s been more or less warming up to Fritz. No longer wrinkles his nose when the teenager is in close proximity or snaps to shut up despite responding to a question that had been asked. Even before then, the senior researcher wasn’t trying to torture the unwanted assistant, just find ways to pass him along to someone else.

After a few months of working together, Fritz isn’t despised. David isn’t walking out the door to force his assistant to follow considering today he was tasked specifically to help the tall man with the sole reason David always knows what’s best.

“...we, we can go watch.”

“Hanging up, James.”

“Don’t hesitate to call back.”

David roll his eyes as he pockets his phone before walking out of the room. Fritz jolts at the realization he’s being left behind before shedding his gloves and goggles, chasing after the man who’s a full foot taller and yet never slows his pace down.

“He bitches about me calling, but whenever the dumbass is worried about you he’s more than happy to get covered in ash again despite complaining it took him weeks to get it all off.”

The teenager is forced to jog to keep up. “Well, you do-”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

Fritz smiles at the threatening tone despite knowing where they’re headed. Glad to have something to keep his mind off of it. Forcing his limbs not to lock up as he repeats the promises this is safe. Nothing will happen.

David’s hand catches Fritz’s lab coat before he can jog past the senior researcher, yelping as he’s pulled toward a set of large windows he’s never seen before. He then slowly moves closer when it becomes clear they’re not looking into a room level with them, his breath catching at the sight of having to look down, down, down before he finally spots the ground floor. Which is both terrifying and yet comforting knowing they’re so far away from the anomaly.

The redhead nearly screams when he finally spots it. Such a small form from this high up, but a creature not made for this world none the less. One that’s tall, so thin he can see the edges of its internal structure, and a muted teal color from head to toe. An eerie figure that only becomes uncanny when it takes a stuttering step forward, swaying as if it’ll fall over at any second.

Then it lunges.

David catches him before he can sprint away, pulling the teenager close so there’s no escape. From the anomaly, from the idea the officers currently standing directly beside it getting attacked, at the memories of that same walk advancing toward Fritz.

”Whaaat are you s-so afraid of?”

“You’re not wrong to assume anyone but James are complete dumbasses when it comes to interacting with SCP’s without dying themselves,” David muses, sounding almost annoyed.

Fritz takes a deep breath when it’s clear he’s acting like a scared child, far from the professional assistant researcher he’s done everything in his power to be for David due to the man accepting nothing but perfection from those around him. Clenches his fist and grits his teeth in order to see what’s being spoken about.

Unable to help but stare at the anomaly being completely frozen midair, unable to complete the lunge that was too fast to avoid.

“But no one would transfer an SCP without first having all of the proper equipment,” David finishes. “Not to mention, we’re inside a place built on protecting against things like this. Humans like James are trained on responding to situations where someone’s in danger.”

Just like that night, when Fritz should have been killed. Unable to escape even if he could get himself to move, to run. It was faster than him. Didn’t feel any remorse wearing the skin of someone he knew. There was a field agent who managed to save him before it was too late.

...David’s actually trying to comfort him.

Fritz blinks at the realization. Because this was more than just explaining why someone’s being stupid, those words were specifically meant for reassurance. It makes him smile at the black mail he can give to James when the man’s back on site before leaving for another mission. Appreciative, but never thought he’d see the day.

“What are you looking at, dumbass?”

Fritz’s smile immediately disappears when it’s clear he was caught. "I, I appreciate you letting me watch.”

David scowls before suddenly turning on his heel in order to walk back the way they came. Fritz takes a moment to watch the anomaly slowly wake up, its limbs carefully resetting itself to stand rather than falling to the floor in order to make its way to the waiting truck. Quickly running after his senior researcher.

“Now get back to work!”

Fritz nods as he grins. Finds himself a lot less tense despite the siren still blaring. Straightening up in attention when David places a hand on his head, almost confused at seeing the hazel eyes harden.

“I won’t let any SCP hurt you. If anything ever happens, wait until I find you.”

It’s such an odd request. Yet it’s said so earnestly Fritz can only nod. “Okay, Dr. Harrison.”

He should’ve seen it coming, but then again it’s David. Someone who rarely does certain actions only James tends to do out of fondness. Meaning the senior researcher earns a squawk as he ruffles the red hair with a smirk. “Dumbass.”

Fritz tries everything in his power to get his breathing under controlling, going so far as to holding it instead of hyperventilating. It’s the only thing he can do. Not when his body reacted on its own as soon as the siren started blaring. Sending him diving under the counter before curling into the smallest ball possible.

Now, of all times, why was he remembering that day? Of both David and James attempting to help him with the obvious terror? The promise Fritz made?

Maybe because it’s better to think about that rather than the fact the entire site has been compromised. At the fact Fritz had been working completely alone while testing a few chemicals after agreeing to switch tasks with his colleague for the day. Knowing he won’t be saved, that this is it, but unable to help but feel comfort and hope that somehow David will actually be able to find him. That James will appear on site despite the fact he left for a mission two days ago.

Fritz knows it’s nothing but wishful thinking, and yet he can’t bare the thought of a fatal anomaly stumbling upon him at any minute.

He truthfully doesn’t know what’s better. Knowing that something went wrong is one thing. The siren states there’s been a site-wide containment breach, meaning either an anomaly entered by itself and is causing havoc, or every single cell for hundreds of documented anomalies have just unlocked. Considering the door to the room Fritz was conducting experiments in opened on its own occurred without anyone’s presence, it staying opening, it’s clear the latter is true.

Yet he hasn’t heard or seen any evidence of every anomaly escaping at once. It’s been almost too quiet, not even the sounds of personnel running or screaming. So despite everything saying he needs to evacuate as soon as possible, it almost feels like nothing’s wrong.

Fritz still can’t move. Can’t even try to peer into the hallway just to see if he should start running. Not when he’s locked in place. Even when he hears the distinct sound of footsteps quickly making their way down the hallway. Despite the fact they’re getting closer and closer to him. And he’s just waiting, just like before.

He can only stare in horror as shoes appear in his field of vision as something walks into the room.

...he knows those shoes.

“Fritz!”

That’s David’s voice. Not a stranger’s, not a warped cry of an anomaly. But that can’t be real. How would the man find him? How-?

Fritz can’t breathe when the figure is suddenly kneeling to reveal David, who looks relieved when he spots the shivering redhead. “You scared the shit out of me. Come on we need to go.”

It’s automatic, reaching out to accept the outstretched hand. The promise Fritz will be kept safe. Or at the very least won’t be alone.

”Come heeeere.”

Fritz yanks his hand back, bumping into the wall in the attempt to get as far away from the thing trying to trick him. Shaking his head to force himself not to trust what seems like a genuine look of confusion and concern.

“Are you D-Dr. Harrison?”

It takes a moment to register what was asked, especially because Fritz can’t speak above a whisper. But he sees when it’s comprehended. The look of fond annoyance so familiar it hurts. “What kind of dumbass question is that?”

That seals it. That this really is David and not something pretending to be him. Responding in such a way that couldn’t be rehearsed enough to sound that genuine.

Fritz lunges forward, the taller’s eyes widening in surprise before yelping as the momentum sends them both falling. The redhead doesn’t apologize though, not when he’s too busy clinging to David as tightly as possible, slumping in relief when all that happens is a sigh before he’s hugged instead of getting killed because he made the wrong choice.

“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to touch you now that I’m here,” David murmurs. Fritz doesn’t want to call out the lie. Not when he was found. He doesn’t know how, and maybe he doesn’t want to know, but the promise was kept.

Fritz laughs when he’s awkwardly pat on the back after a minute. “Th-Thanks for, for finding me.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” David demands. The redhead doesn’t protest as he’s sat up, snorting when the senior researcher’s first priority is to dust his suit off. “Shut up, be grateful I didn’t yell at you for making me lie on the floor.”

If there had been any doubts before, they would’ve disappeared by now. No one but David can be that protective over his suit. Despite the siren still attempting to alert anyone around that can hear it there has been a fatal error somewhere on site.

Before Fritz can ask what happened, he’s being helped to his feet before getting lead out the door. There’s no time to realize and panic that they could encounter a dangerous anomaly immediately. Not when he’s already standing in the hallway that’s...completely empty. The pure white walls untouched.

“Stay behind me.”

David doesn’t free his arm until Fritz nods to state he understands. The senior researcher then begins to walk down the hallway, his assistant immediately following at a slight jog in order to keep up with the fairly quick pace. Almost like today wasn’t any different from yesterday. Or a few days before that.

When they reach a corner, David doesn’t hesitate to round it without so much as slowing down, Fritz essentially left behind as he skids to a halt. Panicked at the fact something could’ve been waiting. The senior researcher almost acting like the entire facility hasn’t been compromised. The doors to the observation rooms of certain anomalies are wide open not even a few feet away.

"Fritz?”

Green eyes blink up at David watching him worriedly. Realized he left the teenager behind and came back for him. It causes Fritz to hug himself knowing he’s the reason they’re no longer heading toward the exit. Able to be stumbled upon by an anomaly. “Y-You just, what if-?”

“Hey, take a deep breath,” David softly commands. “I will get us safely out of here in one piece whether we encounter an SCP or not. But I need you to trust me.”

Trust the man who managed to find him without being told of the switched tasks. The man who refuses to follow standard safety procedures. The man who ridiculed him from day one of being assigned as assistant. The man who acts like he’s a god at times and had a habit of refusing to obey instructions when an observation became compromised.

The same man who did find him to make sure he got out safely.

“...I trust you Dr. Harrison.”

David smiles as he squeezes Fritz’s shoulder. “Just stay close, don’t stop unless I do. I’ll explain once we’re out.”

He nods to say he’ll accept it. Confused and still terrified that David’s only acting like he’s invincible. But if they do get out safely, Fritz will never doubt the tall man again.

Fritz obediently jogs after David as they round the corner, biting his tongue when instead of following the hallways toward the ‘nearest’ exit, they seem to take a roundabout path instead as they make a right instead of continuing forward. To be honest, the facility is so vast the redhead can’t help but get lost at times. Maybe there are quicker ways to get out. Ones assistant researchers aren’t knowledgeable of.

“I really hope that stupid thing got turned off as well,” David mumbles. “We should’ve already found- James!”

Fritz yelps as he collides with the taller figure suddenly coming to a stop, unable to say anything about the amused smirk he earns due to getting a bit dazed from the impact. He’s not nearly as confused to not grab David’s arm to hold him back before he can start down the hallway to where a familiar figure stands. One that shouldn’t be possible. Yet it perks up at the called name.

It looks like James. From his brown hair to the custom made tactical belt clipped around his waist. They haven’t heard the man speak, but at least David isn’t forcing them to go towards what might be the officer they know.

“H-How do we know?” Fritz breathes. Unable to finish the sentence. Pleads David understands he’s not questioning the senior researcher, just questioning if they can trust what they see.

It takes a moment, but a soft ‘ah’ is made once David realizes. “It’s James. I’d be able to tell if it was an SCP in disguise.”

Fritz wants to ask how, but it’s too late, ‘James’ slowing down when he gets about a few feet away with his hands held up in surrender. “Hey, Fritz. It’s just me. The same one you called about David possibly going on a rampage because someone tried to make him wear a lab coat again.”

That sounds convincing, but he can’t know for sure, meaning he doesn’t let go of the arm attempting to tug them both forward. If David’s wrong about being able to tell what’s an anomaly. Is that a reaction James would have? Is that from years of containing different creatures with unknown abilities, or just something trying its hardest to earn their trust?

"What about the same one you secretly called because you were concerned David was sick because he acting ‘too nice’?”

“You did what?”

Fritz doesn’t respond to David’s question, lunging toward the familiar smirk at managing to get on the taller’s nerve. He’s caught before immediately getting pulled into a hug. Definitely their James. “S-Sorry.”

“No, you did good,” the officer assures. “We all know David is a terrible role model.”

“I am not!” David exclaims. “I was right, wasn’t I!”

Brown eyes roll before Fritz is gently pushed away in order for James to pat down his arms, a more than familiar ritual by now. “Have either of you encountered anything? I only saw one anomaly.”

“Nothing as of yet. Don’t know if that’s a good sign or a really bad one.”

Fritz watches as James seems to hesitate, meeting his gaze before looking up at David. “Bad. Meaning we need to get out as soon as possible, meaning you’re leading the way.”

The senior researcher doesn’t question it. Only checks to make sure they’re ready to go before heading back the way they came. This time at a much slower pace in which Fritz no longer has to jog just to keep up.

Somehow, it makes this ten times worse. Fritz knows they might being going slower because now they actually have someone who can at least keep an anomaly at bay if not neutralize it for a short period of time. Knows it’s because James is keeping an eye behind them with one glance back at the officer. David might not be trained to help on missions in capturing anomalies, but it wouldn’t be surprising it he wasn’t given a few lessons on what should be done if something like this ever happened.

But it gives Fritz time to think. To jump at every little sound reverberating through the hallways he hadn’t noticed before. Following David, but feeling like he’s missing something if he’s in front instead of James.

“Did you just arrive on site?” Fritz finally asks. Quietly because it feels wrong if he raised his voice anymore. Needing to talk.

“I did, actually. We just transported a keter that’s no longer contained, but I had been on my way to find you guys when the siren started.”

“Do we know why it happened?” David calls over his shoulder.

“It came from the higher ups,” James all but growls. “I didn’t see any damage, didn’t feel the entire place shake from an explosion. And considering the lights and ventilation system is still functioning, there was a specific command put in to open all cells.”

Fritz gasps as David suddenly stops again, crashing against the taller and stumbling back. He nearly trips over his own feet to fall onto the hard ground when James manages to catch his arm. He appreciates it considering that he should have expected such a reaction from that kind of revelation. That a site-wide containment breach was due to one of the O5 allowing it to happen.

However, David doesn’t whirl around to demand more information. Doesn’t argue over why such a system was in place. The senior researcher’s attention locked onto the open doorway directly to their left.

“There’s an SCP in that room.”

...how does David know? Why is he acting so calm? It was said in such a nonchalant way Fritz has no time to process what it really means until James is already entering a room that was strictly meant for storing files and equipment and opening the next door.

Instead of revealing a small broom closet, there is an entire hallway identical to the one they stand in except for a closed brown door patiently waiting to be opened on the opposite side.

“The repeating one moved?” David demands, the redhead too scared and stunned too protest being pushed behind the taller and further away from possibly getting locked in another dimension with no clear way out.

James doesn’t respond as he closes the door, reaches into his belt, and attaches a small round metal plate to it. One with the Foundation’s symbol engraved on it, marking the door as the entrance to an anomaly.

“It did.” The officer joins them back into the hallway as he looks back the direction they came to the direction they are going. “We need to move with a little more caution. And absolutely no closed in staircases.”

This is worse than they previously thought. Fritz assumed that while the doors to the cells opened, that didn’t mean any extra equipment was deactivated as well, meaning certain lights and emitters should still be functioning properly to hold certain things in place. This means everything has been turned off and anomalies that are better described as nothing more than a presence rather than a physical being can just move without a single warning.

David glances down at the teenager by his side. “I can only sense SCP’s within a short radiance.”

“Then I suggest we check corners before turning them.”

Fritz doesn’t try to ask what they mean. He is all too aware this is getting worse by the minute. If he starts demanding answers now then he’ll be putting them all in danger. And if he starts panicking that will only distract and slow them down. Right now he just needs to trust the two doing everything in their power to getting them all out safely.

He only nods to show agreement to the new rule alongside David. Then they hear what sounds like someone running as fast as they can.

Fritz is already being pushed in the opposite direction of where the echoing noise is originating from as James reaches for his belt. It wasn’t nearly enough time, not when a man suddenly slides across the opening of the hallway they stand. Is on his feet a second and already sprinting in their direction.

It’s clear they hadn’t been noticed previously when he made the turn. The moment he does is the same moment Fritz realizes he’s wearing a D-Class uniform and looking more fearful than hostile.

“Run!”

Both James and David doesn’t hesitate to heed the man’s frantic yell. Not when the overhead light of where he had been suddenly shatters, glass and sparks falling at the same time overwhelming darkness blankets a full ten feet of the hallway. Makes it seem as if there had been nothing there in the first place.

Fritz is almost glad as he turns to run for his life, not wanting any reason to see what is chasing them.