Title: Ending 3 - The Pharmacy
Status: Complete
Characters: Lucy/Fang, Anon, Trish 
Rating: SFW
Classification: One-Shot
Author: Anonymous

Ending 3 - The Pharmacy

We're at the pharmacy again.
With Lucy caring for the kids nowadays, she's become a lot more conscious of what health products she buys.
Medicated shampoos, feather conditioners, antiseptic creams, the works. 
Though after several years of washing with government contract 13-in-1 Shampoo, Toothpaste, and Eye Drops, I don't mind.
I still remember when she'd buy the cheapest stuff she could find during the grocery run after she used all of mine.
...except the dipping sauces.
That hasn't changed.
...
I eye the front counter's offerings and spot a multi-coloured pot of various lollipops.
On the pot it lists their various boons:
"VITAMIN A"
"VITAMIN B6"
"VITAMIN B12"
"VITAMIN C"
...
"ZINC"
...
For some reason my eyes reflexively twitch towards Lucy then back.
...
"ALL-NATURAL FLAVOURS!"
"FOR CHILDREN FOUR AND ABOVE!"
...
Interesting.
Reminds me of the fentanyl lollipops the Medic gave me back in the military.

Lucy:
...fentanyl lollipops?

Anon:
Yea, they're these little lozenges on a stick; you just sort of suck on them and the pain goes away.
Sure beats a shot of morphine.

The tip of her snoot turns down into a small pity-taking frown as she quickly clings to my arm.
...

Anon:
Adorable.

After a brisk yet gentle rub of my scars, Lucy's usual smiling demeanour returns to her face.

Lucy:
Oh, I need to get some lady supplies too!
I'll just be a second, you can wait here if you want.

I would normally join her to make fun of all of the feature lists touting "Extra Absorbancy!".
But now my latest objective was in view.
With a quick wave Lucy sets off with her basket.
...
...and with all the civilians out of the way, I approach my target.
I once again eyed up the lollipops in their all-natural glory.
They won't be filled with high-dosage opiates...
BUT BY RAPTOR JESUS THEY'LL (probably) DO!
I take a fistful and spread them on the counter.
...
For a split-second I am reminded of the intro to The Dino Project.
It was one of the few games I was ever able to get away with playing on the military computers.
All battered hand-me-downs running Pterium IIs.
...
Good times.
As I snap back to reality, I see the middle-aged pharmacist's eyes slowly moving from my bounty, zig-zaging up my arm, and to my face.
After taking a second to process my presence, I realise I have been compromised.
A cruel irony.
Her brow furrows, and the edges of her mouth turn upwards.
...a shit-eating grin to rival my own?
[Anon sports a shit-eating grin in turn]
Impressive.
After slipping her the cash and the non-verbal pact was made to keep my latest perfectly-legal acquisition on the down-low, Lucy returns.

Lucy:
Ok, that should be everything, do you need anything els-

Immediately she eyes the contents of the now near-empty lollipop pot.
Then the label.
Followed by a nostalgic look similar to that of the pharmacist.
...then a nostalgic elbow-jab in the side.
FISSION MAILED
...
As the pharmacist tallies up the contents of the basket, the entrance bell rings.
While Lucy gets out her debit card to pay, I turn to see a face.
A familiar purple face, dressed in a familiar yellow hoodie.
...
Trish.
...
......
.........
We both look at each other with wide-eyed gazes, though she seems to lack her classic overt malice.
...and hair.
...
Well, I guess fate wouldn't let us get away with this forever.
She looks beside me at Lucy, now withdrawing her card from the payment machine.
Her nose momentarily flares, and her eyes glaze over.
...but before I can say anything, she flashes a piece of paper.

Trish:
Picking up my prescription.

As Lucy hears the voice, she noticeably stiffens up, and the pharmacist quickly excuses herself.
...
She takes a second to compose herself, before pivoting around with her legs together to face her.

Lucy:
Hello Trish, how are you doing nowadays...?

It seemed almost rehearsed.

Trish:
...
Decent.

Lucy:
Oh, right, yes, good.

...but evidently not rehearsed enough.
As Lucy tried to muster the sort of smile you give a student you know has problems going on at home, Trish simply strolled up to the register.
The pharmacist had already returned with a small bag and passes it over the counter to Trish.
Seems almost routine.
I notice that one of her horns is wrapped in bandages; the others are engraved.
They look freshly applied, but with slight yellow-brown blotches bleeding through the gauze.
...
I suppose that explains the prescription.
Ouch.

Trish:
Thanks.

Lucy:
A-are you s-sure everything's alright?

Her eyes dart up and look far into the door to the supply room in the back a few metres away.
She searches within it for a few seconds.
Then her gaze suddenly hardens.

Trish:
...
Yep.

As she says that, similar to Lucy, she pivots on the spot and makes a slow beeline for the door just as she entered.
Lucy makes some visible internal attempt to ask more questions.
...
...but Trish is gone before anything can be said.
...
She exhales shakily, deflating in the process.
I don't think she took a moment to breathe during the whole incident.
Maybe it'd interrupt her rhythm.
...
Then, she turns back to look at our bags.

Anon:
...got everything you need?

She searches within the bags for a few seconds.
...
Then she takes my hand in hers.

Lucy:
Yes.

And with that, we go home.