Chapter Text
Coaxing the little creature out of its curl was getting progressively easier, Logan speaking gently and carefully smoothing its defensive spikes down until the creature slowly uncurled and chittered at him. Twenty-three minutes was a record for him, and he rewarded with some mashed bananas.
Since Remy reported that the creature had been active when he came in, Logan wanted it to sleep now - especially since they weren't going to be giving it attention for a while. He'd already switched on the heat lamp, and normally that was enough to get it to nap.
Not today, apparently, as the little thing stood stubbornly, clicking and chittering. Logan had tried to lure it up to the lamp with a banana, and it had worked for a moment, until the banana was all gone and the little thing scurried back down with a chirp. Remy had found that extremely amusing, and instead of helping had just sat back to watch.
"Come on, little one. I know you're tired, sleep up here with the lamp - you enjoy the lamp, it's very warm, isn't it?"
He found himself yet again testing that the lamp was sufficiently warm - and it was - before watching its reaction. The creature simply bobbed in place, slower and more sluggish than usual, but still unwilling to at least curl up and rest if it wasn't going to sleep. His mind pulled up fond memories of Roman doing the same, seated on his toy horse, rubbing at his eyes but insisting he stay awake.
"I don't know what you want, little creature. Is something wrong with your enclosure? Are you still hungry? You can have lots of food later if you go to sleep now. Please"
Across the laboratory, Remy watched with an air of amusement. Logan had sent him with a few dollars to get himself a new coffee - it was a ridiculously dad-type move, and Remy would've declined if it weren't for the free coffee. He drew the line when Logan offered his own coat to wear, though, he'd rather stroll into Starbucks all stained and cold and shit than wear the man's too-big coat and look like an actual child wearing his dad's clothes.
He was leaning comfortably on the tank, and spared a side glance to the thing inside. Oddly, it had stopped its high-speed circle swimming to stare at Logan and the spider baby. Ah well, it was probably focused on the noise Logan was making, or sizing the little thing up for food.
"What a sight, hmm?" He found himself musing to the creature next to him "the great scientist, Logan Sanders, negotiating with his specimen over nap time"
Remy smirked to himself for a moment before recoiling and jumping back, staring at the aquatic creature who seemed to stare right back.
"The fuck am I doing, talking to you guys. Lo's rubbing off on me, I'm losing it. Screw this, imma go get the food prepared." he turned to address Logan "Is this the list of foods to get?"
Logan wasn't even looking at him, barely engaged as he seemed to be gently encouraging the spider up with his hand "Mm. Yeah, that's the one"
Remy snickered and put down the piece of paper he'd been doodling on earlier, grabbing the actual list before leaving, idly considering the merits of jokingly getting Logan a 'world's best dad' mug before realising the lovable idiot would probably just thank him and not realise the joke.
Even as Remy left, Logan was wholly focused on the spider creature, trying yet again to lead the little thing up to its usual napping location. It would follow his fingers excitably, patting at the digits with it's pedipalps and chittering to try and play - until it noticed where Logan was leading it and scurried off. The little creature was down right lethargic, and Logan surely could've let it pass out on a random web now that it was exhausted, but that didn't seem fair at all to the cutie.
He tried to use his experience with Roman, and considered a solution that would definitely get him mocked if Remy were in the room. Luckily he was not, so Logan scooped the tiny creature up for the cradling hug. The other creature struck its tank rather harshly and Logan had only a moment to worry about it being a possible threat display that would spook the other, before the creature on his shoulder rattled its carapace. It was much quieter than the rapid banging but, amazingly, the rattling caused the other to instantly go silent. The two were engaged in a silent conversation, the creature using its pedipalps to rub at its own face in a way Logan had never observed before. Floating for a moment, the new creature was completely still as tentacles fanned out to expose more and more eyes staring right into Logan's soul before it finally blinked and sped off back to lap circles.
Strange behaviour that he'd have to note later, but for now Logan focused on the creature in his arms and getting it off to sleep. He began with scratching at its carapace soothingly - the purr started up like a car engine, making Logan smile wide as he slowly walked laps of the laboratory in hopes of soothing it to sleep.
It seemed to be working, the creature settling and nuzzling insistently into the nape of his neck with the pedipalps tapping gently at the skin without its little fangs even so much as scraping his skin. Even for an infant animal, the little thing tamed easily and sometimes acted so much like an actual human baby it hurt.
The creature certainly knew this motion, and it made Logan curious as to how its parents behaved - a part of him certainly wanted to watch it being cradled by a mama creature, the thought was endearing.
Forty minuets passed and the creature was certainly asleep at this point, all limbs tucked in and trusting Logan to not drop it, considering it didn't have any limbs holding on to his shirt. It felt precious, even as he gently lifted it off to settle it in front of its heat lamp, smiling warmly as he secured the enclosure door.
With that sorted all of Logan's focus could go on the other creature, idly speeding laps of its tank. He did find it rather cute, though in a more abstract way. It reminded him of Roman, in a different way to the little creature, the energy and mischief and sometimes playful disobedience that made Logan smile even though he really shouldn't be encouraging it.
"Hello. Are you having fun in your tank? It's a lovely tank, I hope it's enough like your home that you don't miss it too terribly."
The creature actually stopped as he spoke, which was interesting, like it was actually focused on Logan speaking. Though surely it was just lured by the noise and was watching Logan to gauge if he was a threat. Surely.
" Is my voice interesting? I wonder what you think of all this, being taken to a lab. Must be strange, but we aren't going to hurt you. In fact, once Remy gets back, you're going to get some dinner. Won't that be nice?"
For a moment he could almost imagine the creature nodding before the laboratory door opened, a winded Remy tugging along a trolley packed with food. Logan rushed over to help the effort, feeling slightly guilty that he sent the student off to collect the heavy load, especially since this was the dodgy trolley which two of the wheels don't wheel at all. Together they had the trolley situated in front of the tank, Logan checking that everything was on the list while Remy took a breather.
"In my bag there is an unopened bottle of water if you need it. It is flavored lightly with peach, as that is the only way I can get Roman to drink water"
Remy gave a wordless grunt, taking him up on his offer and going to retrieve the bottle. After finishing the bottle in one go, the usual sass returned
"Are the US military rations supplied there? Fuck that, is the actual military in there?"
Logan chuckled at that as he gathered the necessary paperwork
"Apologies, I know you shouldn't be handling heavy loads such as that. The trolley contains two separate coolers and a heater to store food, each with their own battery, so it is incredibly heavy even when not loaded with food."
It seems the student had no sass for a genuine apology, shrugging nonchalantly is beginning to prepare the foods they were going to try. Various fish, crustaceans, red and white meat, and a few root vegetables to try. Logan had selected both land and aquatic foods, considering it was found in the middle of a forest and so conceivably, could hunt above water.
First, Remy handed him a sizable cut of pollock along with a cut of haddock. He dropped the chunks from the opening at the top of the tank. It was simply remarkable to watch, the fish had barely touched the water before it shot up, swallowing both chunks in a mouth that Logan couldn't see through all the tentacles before dipping back down to continue circling, unbothered. Logan openly gasped in awe while Remy made a vaguely disgusted noise.
"Incredible. We'll have to measure how fast it can travel, and probably request a larger tank so it may have some space to reach maximum velocity."
Remy grumbled something about that being 'totally great', which seemed contradictory with Remy's general attitude to the new creature, before handing over the next fish chunk.
The routine continued, the creature never once rejecting a cut of fish or meat. He'd even dropped in a few shellfish, in hopes of watching the incredible dexterity of the limbs work to crack open the hard shell, but the creature simply consumed them all with a large crunch. It also didn't seem to be getting any fuller, which was strange, Logan would have to experiment with the best feeding schedule. The sleepy little creature was fed daily, every morning by Logan, along with treats (often bananas or berries) for being cooperative...or sometimes just for being cute, Logan had to admit.
As they got up the vegetables, and it seemed that the creature was going to finish everything offered, Logan decided it would be a good idea for Remy to try to feed it. Not only would it be good as a student, Logan would very much like him to warm up to both creatures, especially this one as he continued to be wary.
"No. No. Absolutely not, I won't and you can't make me"
Logan sighed at that, "You're studying for a bachelors in biology with hopes of being employed at this facility after graduation. You will need to learn how to feed the specimens, this one is feeding well, it's a great place to start"
He made sure to keep his tone calm, and only a little like how he spoke to children, Remy kept his face and tone blank as he responded.
"Fine, I'm changing courses"
"No you're not"
"Am too!" Despite the students' protest, he took the food with only a slight grumble.
"Just drop the yam into the tank - it rarely even breaks water when it comes to eat. Just be careful."
Remy perched daintily on the edge of the tank, staring at the vegetable with such dread it was rather amusing. From the position on the ground, he could see the creature more clearly and how it seemed to notice the food before it had even dropped. As he saw the yam be dropped, the creature yet again shot upwards. Only it completely missed the food, rocketing up. Almost in slow motion, the fear dawned on the scientist as it jumped up to wrap itself completely around Remy's wrist.
Understandably, Remy's reaction was a loud, startled scream as he began shaking his arm rapidly. Logan practically flew up the steps along the tank to reach the top, to attempt to pry the thing off, but it had unlatched itself before he even got there, dropping back into the water and meandering lazily to go and eat the yam. Focus switched to ensuring Remy was not injured. They knew it could produce hazardous chemicals, and Logan didn't know what he'd do if he'd caused Remy to jeopardise an arm just because he wanted him to overcome his nervousness.
"Shit, fuck it fucking -" the poor student was still shocked, gesturing wildly at his arm. Logan was only able to mumble a soft "I know, I know" as he inspected his arm.
The skin showed no discolouration or irritation or even any teeth marks and after a few heaving breaths, Remy was able to blink at Logan and say,
"It's…it's not hurting or anything. It just squeezed me a bit, and scared me, a lot."
A weight lifted off Logan's shoulders, sighing in relief and nodding. He reached over and shut the lid of the tank to prevent anymore mischief, pulling out his work phone and dialing
" I'm still going to ask someone from the medical staff to check you over - ah, hello, Terrance, would you be able to come to my laboratory -"
Remy sighed at the dad-ing going on right in front of his eyes, rolling them behind his shades and inspecting his own arm. It felt fine, just slimy and smelling vaguely fishy. Honestly he was already over the scare, he put up with worse shit in this laboratory. A soft tap on the glass made him notice that the spider baby had been awoken by his screaming and seemed rather antsy if the pacing was anything to go by. As if the creature had the capacity to be concerned for him, but still, he held the arm up for inspection and the little thing did seem to be watching it.
In hopes of easing it, he reached to tap on the glass like their usual game. Only to stop, and stare at his wrist. Remy wore a silver bracelet 24/7 to alert medics to medical conditions and include contact information in case he's found dying in an alley or some shit.
Only it wasn't on his wrist like usual, he hadn't taken it off - the bracelet was medical and clung tightly to the skin so it wasn't a laboratory hazard. A light scoff escaped him as he turned to point an accusatory finger at the shit-bag currently staring at him from the tank
"That little turd ate my bracelet!"