Chapter 02: Not into Vore
"[King Croc (Menacingly): I smell fresh meat...]"
Atlas' brain- although panicking and screaming for him to run away like, yesterday (His body forgot he doesn't have legs) -was working overdrive to make him think. First of all, he recognized the name, after all, who wouldn't? One of Batman's animal themed villains, which sounds weird when you put the Joker and Mr N-word or whatever was his name. Atlas wasn't a comic book fan, he had browsed the Fandom Wiki page for a few heroes back home (He's pretty sure there were no super heroes back home, even though he's having a hard time remembering where he's from) when he wanted to write explicit fanfic. He remembered a few things, like how Batman was Bruce Wayne and that he was Bi, how Clark Kent was Superman and that he was pretty hot, how he would write Barry Allen as the hungriest bottom on the planet because it was fun...
He also loved using the Pink Kryptonite as a plot device.
Besides his rather lewd habits, he was now face to face to one of Batman's villains. And he looked a little bit different than he had seen on the internet... He looked more crocodile than man, and that was what made him feel like a monster, right? 'Please let me be dealing with a reasonable Croc- I'm not into vore!' Atlas winced when his hand dug into the ground and a sharp something cut his hand- oh no, and he's in the sewers! He needs to do something about before he gets Super Cancer Aids Death Zombie Virus that makes your Dick Fall Off Disease- I mean, what sickness would you get if not something deadly in the sewers of Gotham? 'Holy shit, I'm in Gotham... And I have no legs, fuck!' With no legs he would be a good target for others, seeing as he is more vulnerable and will have a way harder time escaping from danger.
Ergo: now.
"[Killer Croc (Menacingly...?): Ah... Fresh meat, huh? Good to find you...?]" Croc had taken a few steps towards him and Atlas had felt like he was going to either be attacked or killed, but that might have been his mind just screaming at him because of the perceived danger he was in. Because in a strange twist of fate, Killer Croc seemed... worried? Well, his voice seemed to do a little uncertain twist at the end that happens when people are unsure about something, and a part of his mind also recognized a tiny hint of worry on his voice. This was the first time a big crocodile man is worried about him! As they say, first time for everything, huh? As Killer Croc got closer, Atlas saw the big guy step into the light coming from above, from the single hole that was the entrace to the sewers that Atlas had seen. '...oh no, he's hot.'
[This one]
Green scales forming plaques of protective armor around his enormous body, a long, long tail that ended at a jagged point, and wearing only a leather jacket. That was Waylon Johnes, mostly known as Killer Croc. Atlas was rather surprised- this one was a complete humanoid crocodile instead of the ones he remembered Killer Croc as. "[Killer Crock (Intimidating): Tell me, little guy, what're you doin' here? I wasn't planning on getting dinner today yet...]"
"Uh... Well, glad to be invited? I mean, considering the circumstances I'm in, being invited to a date with the Killer Croc doesn't seem that bad-" What the fuck is he talking about!? Atlas! Hey, brain, do something about this! Look at what we're doing for fuck's sake! We're flirting with the guy famous for eating people (kinda? he doesn't really know), a dangerous and... kinda hot criminal! 'Awn fuck, I'm a monsterfucker.' Right, he forgot that simple fact... Although he doesn't remember details of his life, he's pretty sure he was a great fanfic writer, and that he wrote some pretty raunchy stuff about monsters too. It's not that he's a furry- okay, he might be, but he will fuck whatever resembles a man the most, with their consent of course! "-but I hope you got reservations from somewhere outside this place, I'm just saying, not really romantic at all." There was a few moments of awkward silence before the big crocodile man started to shake- Atlas was nervous, did do something bad? Of course he did oh gods, he's gonna get eaten.
"[Waylon Jones (Laughing): Pffft- Oh fuck, that's a first! Never heard someone flirting with me so openly before.]" Trying to contain his laughter, Killer- No, Waylon Jones grinned at him. His sharp crocodile teeth reflected the light coming from above like a spotlight, making them look more menacing than intended- after all, Waylon had simply smiled, its not his fault he looks menacing by default! "[Waylon Jones (Humorous): So, lil' guy, what you doin' in the sewers then? As much as I am incredibly handsome, someone wouldn't come down hwre just to flirt with me... Besides, this isn't a place for you, specially-]" that was when he noticed the very prominent lack of legs: "[Waylon Jones (Confused): Huh? Well, another reason you shouldn't be here.]" Huffing, the croc man stood took a few steps back until he was out of the spotlight, looking at him. His golden yellow eyes glowed the moment he stepped into the darkness behind the light, and Atlas couldn't help but feel like he wasn't entirely out of danger yet. They kept an awkward eye contact for a few moments before Atlas realized something-
'Oh, he is waiting for an answer.'
"...well, I didn't really want to come into your house uninvited, but some people really like throwing others down holes." Atlas didn't truly know if he was thrown down here, but considering the fact that he has no legs and isn't stupid, its pretty obvious someone threw him down here in the hopes he would die or be eaten by Killer Croc. "And, well, I can't exactly run away from people can I?" He gestured to his legs, or rather, to where they should've been- seriously, he was wearing shorts so it was pretty obvious to see that the bottom of the stumps had these ugly jagged scars, meaning his legs were probably removed in an aggressive and bloody way. "Also, not to bother your big crocodile self, but can you help me?" Trying not to sound desperate, Atlas lifted his hand that was now bleeding profusely- gods, he truly loves the [Calm Mind Mode] -and winced: "I'm not sure I got the vaccine for whatever you can get down here... And, well, I can't crawl my way to a hospital, now can I?"
"[Waylon Jones (Hesitantly): I don't know kid, I don't really go to the surface that much- Can't help, don't know the way to any hospitals.]" He also sounded slightly apologetic, which was great in his opinion- that meant he wasn't going to eat him, if he's sorry he can't get him to a hospital. Maintaining the distance between them, Waylon's eyes narrowed and his pupils turned into a slit as he took a deep breath: "[Waylon Jones (Serious): Besides, what would I get out of helping you? There's nothing for me there... Well, besides getting a new boy toy by the way you've been flirting with me, but I can get that whenever and wherever.]" Shrugging, Waylon turned around to leave, but Atlas was not having any of that.
No, he was in a fucking dark tunnel that was infested with flesh eating bacteria, rats the size of dogs, and crocodiles that weren't humanoids like Waylon.
He wants to leave this place.
"Well, that's a shame-" Quick, think of a lie! "-and here I was, thinking we could come to an arrangement... King Croc sounds like a good nickname, doesn't it?"
"[Waylon Jones (Interested): King Croc...? I admit, that does sound like a good nickname, but why would I receive that nickname?]" Looking over his should, his back completely turned towards him, Waylon seemed to wait for an answer- Okay, to Atlas' knowledge, Waylon would one day be called King Croc and not Killer Croc because of his empire of homeless people. He doesn't know much about it, only that it happens and people call Waylon King Croc because of it.
"Well, big guy, because I can make you a king." Bait has been thrown, time to lay the trap! "Your own empire to rule, with subjects that actually respect you not out of fear, but out of... respect." Okay, that sounded way cooler inside his head. "I don't really like to brag-" Lie "-but I am kind of a... scholar, I'd say. Strategist. Planner. The guy with the brains, because I certainly do not have the brawls." That's kinda true, he doesn't fight but he does think a lot! "And with my help, you can become someone that doesn't need to fear the surface, someone who is respected by others, someone who can be called a king... but first, I would need not to die from sick sewer flesh eating bacteria disease." He, once more, looked at his bleeding hand: "I can practically feel my immune system losing an uphill battle against the forces of evil known as viruses."
"[Waylon Jones (Amused, Interested): Well then... Your proposal sounds interesting enough... I can't go to the surface, the Bat would easily find me after I ran out of Arkham for the... I lost count.]" Clearly amused by his speech (Atlas could read the Subtitles well when they literally appeared right in front of his face, thank you very much) and his declaration of glorious rise, Waylon approached him with heavy steps- seriously, think that scene from Jurassic Park where the T-Rex stomps down and the water ripples, but instead of a cup of water, it's disgusting murky sewer waters. "[Waylon Jones (Serious): Although I can't really get you to a hospital, I can steal from a pharmacy.]"
"...better than nothing."
Okay, getting carried by a big crocodile man feels weird. Specially when you have no legs to be carried in a fireman carry, having to be carried like a baby instead. 'Well, at least I'm filling my mental map...' Waylon took him through various different sewer passages, even getting into the water while holding him up not to get him wet and possibly worse! Waylon was silent, so Atlas did not try to make any conversation with him, but instead focused on the book icon in the corner of his vision.
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The Library is Open Would you like to browse?
Search
Perks
By Topics
Reading
Finished Books
Q&A | Manifest | Configurations
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'Let's see... [Perks].' Focusing on the option he wanted to see, Atlas soon found another screen in front of his face, but this one was rather... bare.
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Perks
0 Books Read - [Fast Reading]
1 Book Read - [???]
10 Books Read - [???]
100 Books Read - [???]
1,000 Books Read - [???]
10,000 Books Read - [???]
100,000 Books Read - [???]
1,000,000 Books Read - [???]
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'Huh...' So, he needs to read books to unlock new things? That seems fine, he can easily do that in a heartbeat, he loves reading books! And, well, his starter perk seemed to make it all easier for him considering-
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Fast Reading
You can read faster than a normal human. Your thought process speed, wisdom, and intellect is increased by the amount of books you've read.
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He was about to pull out the first book he could find in his mental library to unlock the first perk quickly, but he was snapped out of his mind by the rumbling sound of Waylon's voice and the way his entire body vibrated thanks to the deep bass voice that Waylon had- seriously, his lungs must've been enchanted by his genetic disease thing, only way he could stay underwater and hold his breath for minutes on end.
"[Waylo Jones (Neutral): So, see the big hole up there?]" Waylon had taken him through several tunnels, until they reached their destination. It was a big hole on the ceiling, and Atlas could see some metal bars that were sunk into the wall to make some sort of staircase? "[Waylon Jones (Neutral): That's my usual exit to the world above... I can't climb holding you, so you will have to hold on instead.]"
Oh, so he gets to wrap his arms around Waylon's thick neck? That's kinda cool and a little bit romantic like one of those romance novels, right?
WRONG!
He was screaming a few moments later, when he had to hold on for dear life. Super strength also translated into super jumping abilities it seems.