"...."
072 had always, always known he was drastically different from other people, different almost to a fault. Being confined for years in The Laboratory, subjected to testing tubes, operations, and surgery--- all while not being allowed to speak--- had made him sure of that.
He knew he couldn't talk, act, or think the same way outsiders did. He knew his mental differences. But he realized he was never actually aware of what his physical differences were.
It made him wonder. What else did those monsters do to him?
'Am I.. still a human?'
The thought gave him chills. He sat in silence, refusing to make a sound.
"Not going to answer, are you?" The man straightened up.
Isiah spoke for him, sounding wary. "I'm sorry, but my friend has a speaking disorder. He won't be able to answer anything, and I'm sure the both us have no idea what you're talking about. Sir." Isiah added the last word in a hurry.
"..I see."
The man's tone sounded slightly disappointed, but he recovered and smiled at them once more. 072 felt the back of his neck prickling.
"May I ask you one more question?"
"What is it?"
While outwardly calm, Isiah was panicking.
'Ugh.. Where is Phillip?? It's been a whole hour.. I just want to go home.'
They were only here to ask for help-- he hadn't expected to be questioned by a group of powerful Deviants about a topic that didn't concern him.
"Are you two siblings?"
Isiah blinked. "No.. why?"
The drunk deviant beside him yawned again. His companion didn't speak. The red-haired man's grin widened.
"That settles it, then."
Fwick.
"Agah?!" 072 screamed.
"Sir!"
Without another word, the red-haired man scooped up 072 over his back and strode toward the door, his companions tailing after him. 072 flailed his arms and legs, but the man's grip was firm. He started to panic.
"Awawawa!!" he cried.
"Wha-- hey!! Where are you taking him?!" Isiah panicked. He tugged at the man's legs. "Put him down!!"
The police officers scrambled to get a hold of the situation; a chorus of voices erupted.
"Sir, please, put the child down--" stammered one officer.
"What's going on here?" demanded another.
Officer Raymond, the one who had questioned them first, started to protest as well. They had stayed quiet for a while, but even this has gone too far. "You can't just take him!"
The man smirked, pausing at the doorway. "I'm taking him with me. Why, is there a problem?"
The officers exchanged uneasy glances. One, looking particularly flustered, stepped forward. "Yes, there are! Many! You can't take the child with you! He's not legally yours!"
The red-haired man turned around slowly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. 072's head swam with confusion. He closed his eyes, feeling dizzy. It was the same sensation he felt when he was trapped in the crate.
The man tilted his chin upwards. "I'm adopting him, then."
A collective groan.
"No, no, that's not the point..!" Another officer, this time looking more indignant, spoke up. "That child has parents, guardians!! They must be worried sick if--"
The red-haired man cut them off, waving his hand. "Really, now? He looks quite filthy to me. He's only wearing a shirt that's far too big for him, and he stinks. He's unbelievably thin, too. It's clear that he doesn't have a legal guardian."
The officer who spoke stammered, his face red with both embarrassment and shock. The possibility of that hadn't even crossed his mind.
"I--"
"Well, that's that." The red-haired man interrupted them one last time. "I'll see you all sometime next week about the thing I asked for. Goodbye."
With that, the three Deviants left the police station, leaving Isiah and the rest of the officers alone in shocked silence.