16. Not That Bitch

Foxx giggled at how wide Charity's eyes went when she caught sight of him.

"Foxx, I never thought I'd say this, but…it's a masterpiece," Harlow said with a snicker next to him.

Well…the man wasn't wrong. The, thankfully, double fur lined, sparkly bunny sunsuit he was wearing was beyond adorable. The middle of the body, and the part where the face shield zipped in, was a baby pink color that faded to white when it got to the floppy ears, gloves, and boots.

If the colors weren't extra enough, the matching rhinestones pushed it there. Because the entire thing, gloves and boots included, was covered in artfully placed droplet shaped rhinestones, adding the perfect amount of sparkle.

And if all that wasn't cute enough, there was also a large pink bow on his right ear, and little paw pads on the palms of his gloves.

It was interesting, because he"d actually had the sunsuit for a while, but hadn't really gotten a chance to put it on due to…well, not being in a cold place. Followed by his ever present desire to annoy Harlow with his bear ones.

"It's beautiful… I just wish I could see the look on that prick"s face when he sees it." Charity giggled.

"Does anyone like this man, and if not, why does he still have a job here?" Foxx asked with a huff.

"You'd have to ask Tony that. Come on, let's go." Harlow grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the back.

Foxx smiled brightly, and defiantly, as some of the handlers glanced up and did a double take upon seeing him and Harlow.

At the sound of someone snickering, Harlow started flipping the room off with his other hand, while he towed Foxx along, down the hallway, to the right of Tony's office.

"Haven't been down here before," Foxx murmured on eyeing the doors they passed.

His brow raised when they reached the end of the hall and it opened up into a waiting room with chairs and a couch. There was a single door with a sign that said Johansson Cordney, Ph.D.

"You haven't really had a need to before now. It's mostly file storage back here, and then just Johansson's office."

"I see." Foxx eyed the door. "Do I just go in?"

Standing there now…he was sort of regretting wearing, in his opinion, one of the most adorable sunsuits he had. Mainly as irritating the man could backfire, making this damn appointment last longer.

Harlow checked his watch. "It's just turned nine, so go for it. The fucker tried to get a receptionist, but Tony shut his self-important ass down. As it is, this waiting room is a joke and a half." Harlow took a seat on the couch facing the door. "I'll be here."

"Right…" Foxx sighed and went to the door, opening it.

The office was about the same size as Tony's. Along the right and left walls were bookshelves, while the far wall had shelves and shelves of awards. From football trophies to track, some framed degrees and other such things, along with a few pictures of the same man currently sitting at the wooden desk that was backed up to the wall of ego stroking nonsense. As why else would one display shit from high school to people they were supposed to be helping with their mental problems?

Johansson straightened, his eyes widening at the sight of him. Moments later, the man's face twisted slightly in disgust, his cheeks reddening in obvious anger.

Behind him Harlow chuckled and chimed, "Have fun."

Rolling his eyes, Foxx walked in and closed the door behind him. Eyeing the man, he smiled brightly, wide enough to flash both of his fangs. "Hello."

Johansson's eyes flicked down and back up. There was an added downturn of his mouth, barely notable, but Foxx had seen it well enough.

Don't tell me the fucker hates vampires too,Foxx thought with an inner eye roll.

Makes sense for a man so fucking average to hate the extraordinary, he supposed. Because there was not much else to say about the human, besides that he was average. Pale skin, brown hair that was definitely dyed and combed over on top…the man looked like your average middle-aged white guy.

As for the suit Johansson was wearing…it screamed off the rack. Which was sort of confusing as the Hunters Guild paid pretty well.

He didn't know exactly how much, but from what he'd seen of the other starting salaries he'd researched before joining, he knew the man should have at least been able to afford a few well-fitting suits.

"Hello?" Foxx said again when the human kept sitting there staring with his disgusted expression.

Johansson's face blanked. Cheeks still flushed, the man cleared his throat, and stated, "Foxx Honeywell, correct?"

"Yes."

Johansson waved his hand at the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

Foxx quickly sat down, not really wanting to be there any longer than he needed to. "So, from what I understand, you are supposed to assess if I have any problems. Well, let me tell you, I do not. I am both mentally and physically sound. No long-lasting effects from getting impaled, and then later kidnapped.

"I mean, I was tortured a bit, but…been there, done that. So, if you wouldn't mind just signing whatever you need to sign so I can get back to work, I'll get out of your hair." At least…out of what was left of it.

"Foxx, it doesn't work like that."

Of course it didn't. Also, how nice of the guy to use his first name like they knew each other.

"But it can. I can safely say that I know my mental state better than anyone else. So really, Johansson, there is no reason for me to waste your time by being here."

Johansson's mouth had twitched when Foxx used his name. Gee, it seems someone doesn't like people acting overly familiar, but somehow is fine with doing it to others.

"Let me be the one to determine that." The man cleared his throat again and pulled a file off the top of a pile on his desk, flipping it open. "So, let's talk about the first incident. About the hospital."

"Why the hospital over me being impaled?" Foxx asked, brow raising.

"Well, according to a NurseGladys, you were quite volatile upon waking up, and dangerous. I feel that getting to the bottom of that reaction will be more conducive to understanding your mental state."

"Why in the hell would you take the word of a nurse who freely let a murderous priest roam around the halls and hurt their patients?"

"Whatever she did, or did not do, doesn't change the fact that there was a violent reaction from you."

Foxx plastered a fake and very sweet smile on his face. "Tell me exactly what was violent about my reaction, doctor? Was it the screaming? The crying? Me uselessly pulling on the cuffs around my wrists and ankles?

"Come on, tell me? How would you react to waking up confused, and to not only find yourself bound, but with a person standing over you actively and purposely hurting you?"

"There is some debate on whether they were hurting you, is there not? Either way, I doubt it was on purpose. While I understand your kinds reluctance?—"

"You understand NOTHING! That same priest was part of an organization that has MURDERED thousands of my kind. For you to sit there and say, knowing all that was discovered about them, that what he was doing could be debated, is not only bollocks of the highest order, but now has me questioning your analytical skills. Are you a fake it until you make it kind of guy, Johansson? Is that why you are so uninformed, or do you just choose to be an ignorant fuck?"

The human's eyes widened in shock. "You..."

"What?" Foxx chuckled. "Did you think because I look cute, I wouldn't call you out on your rubbish takes?"

Johansson's cheeks reddened again, clearly from anger, but the man, instead of snapping, took a deep breath and said, "I feel we have gotten off on the wrong foot."

"You don't say?" Foxx drawled sarcastically.

The human cleared his throat again and flipped a page in his file. "Why don't we switch to your time in captivity. The torture is one thing, but the people who were around you is another. The other vampires, a few didn't survive."

The way the man said people…really drove home that Johansson didn't actually see any of his kind as people.

Foxx took a deep breath in and out. "Some were dead before I even got there, and for others, by the time the rescue came, it was too late."

"Do you think that you being there caused their deaths?"

"No," he replied quickly.

He had…at one point. But…surprisingly, Harlow had made him see that him being there likely had no effect on those who died.

"Really?" Johansson asked with a small smile, brow raised. "You don't think you being there led to more deaths?"

"No," he said with a fake smile. "They would have died whether I was there or not."

"Are you sure? From the report, the actions of the criminals?—"

"The priests."

"Ah…yes, the…priests. They intensified due to your antagonistic actions."

"You mean when I ripped a man's throat out as he attempted to drag me away for more torture?" Foxx chuckled. "They did what all monsters do when defied, they lashed out. But I'm not responsible for that.

"The vampires, sadly, would have died no matter what. Were some of their deaths sped up? Possibly. Were their deaths ultimately my fault? No.

"The ones at fault will always be the bastard priests who kidnapped them, and were intent on torturing them to death."

Even if the worsening torture had sped things along, at most, it had robbed a few horrifyingly painful hours from them. Those who had died would have anyway, whether he'd been there or not. While he hated the thought that he sped up their deaths, he clung to the reality that many more would have died if he hadn't been there.

"It's interesting that you feel no guilt," Johansson drawled.

"Is it? How so?"

"Most would feel some guilt knowing they had a hand in the death of others. Don't you feel any survivor's guilt at all?"

Foxx's head tilted. Was the man trying to push his buttons? Trying to get him to break down? As much as Foxx hated to admit it…a few months ago, it probably would have worked. The question was…how many times had the good doctor tried this shit on others?

"I feel it's been clarified that I didn't have a hand in their deaths."

"I don't think it has. Is it not true that you decided who to save? Were there not moments when you made a choice between lives?"

His eyes narrowed. "The only choice I made was whether a child's life was worth more than mine. If I wish to sacrifice my life for a child's, that is my right. Or do you think the others there had a right to decide who my energy went to?"

Johansson smiled. "And do you think that she is grateful of your choice?"

"Excuse me?" he said stiffly.

"Do you think that the little…vampire you saved is happy to be alive?"

"Yes."

What in the hell kind of question was that?!

The man's smile widened. "Are you sure? Her parents are dead. She has experienced untold trauma. Wouldn't it have been kinder to let her go to a better place?"

Foxx let out a laugh of disbelief. "You bastards are really everywhere, aren't you? I have to say, well done on being able to hide your hatred long enough to meet me, doctor." He clapped mockingly. "So, let me get this straight, you are asking me if it would have been better to let a literal fucking eight-year-old die? It would have been what, kinder, to let that child be tortured to death? Kinder to let her never grow up? Kinder to let her lay there unprotected as the very floor burned her flesh, as the cursed, blessed air coated her lungs, making each breath a new painful experience?"

"I didn't imply that she deserved?—"

"Oh, but you did!" He laughed. "That is exactly what you wished for her. But, no, doctor, I don't think it would have been kinder. I think it would have been the heartless, monstrous option to let a fucking eight-year-old be tortured to death.

"But, I"ll tell you what, if you are ever in such a situation, I'll gladly let you die. Hell, I'll even help you along to whatever bullshit afterlife you believe in. Because as I see it, there is nothing in you worth saving."

Foxx stood up. "Nor is there any point in me talking to you further. Unless you want me to actually display that violent outburst you accused me of earlier. Which—" He grinned viciously. "—would be fun for me."

Johansson was outright glaring now. "Sit down, Foxx," the human ordered stiffly.

Foxx giggled. "Gee, how about…no?"

"If you don't sit down, I'll refuse to approve you for duty."

"Have fun with that. Meanwhile, I'm going to go talk to Tony and ask why I, a vampire, should have to talk about my mental health with someone who despises my very existence."

Johansson's eyes widened.

"What?" he barked out in laughter. "Did you think I wouldn't say anything? Is that how it's gone for you so far? You trying to mentally fuck with the patients you see as lesser lifeforms, and they what…just didn't say anything?

"Though…I suppose, it tracks. We are newly legal and all. The others probably just figured it'd be easier to ignore it, so they can get back to work. Why bother causing issues? Welp, doctor, I am not that bitch," he growled. "I don't avoid problems, I cause them. Because why avoid the issue when it's a hell of a lot more fun becoming it?"

The man blinked, apparently too stunned to speak. Which worked for him.

"Well, now that I've made myself clear, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and be loud, opinionated, and petty as fuck. Toodles." Foxx waved goodbye mockingly as he spun on his heel and left.