Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Baby Love ❯ Chapter 3
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Pairing: AtemuxYugi
Warnings: This fic involves Yaoi (male x male relationships),
Mpreg (male pregnancy), and other concepts which are possibly not suitable for younger readers.
I accept no responsibility for anyone who is underage or hates Yaoi etc. and is still reading.
If you get seriously squicked out by discussions of medical procedures and similar topics, you may want to skip over a couple of thousand words after the words “(Three weeks later)”.
Rating - R
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh. I am merely using the characters and situations, without permission, for the non-profit entertainment of myself, and hopefully others.
I DO own the Zetalife Foundation, and all associated personnel. They are the intellectual property of me! Please do not use them without my express permission.
Any references to “Bakura” during this story are referring to “Ryou Bakura”
***
Authors note.
This would probably be the bit where I start apologising for taking so long to update. Really, really sorry. Lots of things just got in the way (Writers block, Assignments, illness, getting hopelessly addicted to a computer game [sorry], and so on).
I don't know how cinema's work in Japan (Or America), so the one in my fic is based off the UK ones I've been to.
There is usually one ticket checker as you go into the screens, and then you have long corridors with all the doors leading to the individual theatres.
Once the film begins there is about 15 mins of adverts (like the ones on TV), then the film trailers, and finally, the film itself.
There is usually one ticket checker as you go into the screens, and then you have long corridors with all the doors leading to the individual theatres.
Once the film begins there is about 15 mins of adverts (like the ones on TV), then the film trailers, and finally, the film itself.
Review Replies
AngeloflightPd: Thanks for the lovely review. Here's the next chapter.
EcchoKat: Thanks so much.
Erm... I sort of used a quote from your review in this chapter. I hope that you don't mind, but it was just such a PERFECT line for the situation. *Grovels* Please say it was okay.
Erm... I sort of used a quote from your review in this chapter. I hope that you don't mind, but it was just such a PERFECT line for the situation. *Grovels* Please say it was okay.
Many thanks to all the other people who are reading this.
***
Baby Love
Chapter 3
The next day arrived, and with it came the insistent beeping of the alarm. Yugi reached out his hand and searched blindly for the clock, still mostly asleep. Atemu opened his eyes and looked over at Yugi, who had his eyes shut fast, and was failing miserably in his attempts to locate the source of the alarm. Reaching across him, he silenced the clock, at which point, Yugi burrowed back under the covers and seemed to fall completely asleep once again. Atemu shook his head wryly, amused at his husband's behaviour, and got out of bed, heading off to the bathroom for a shower.
Atemu made his way back into the bedroom and woke Yugi, who sleepily wandered off to the bathroom whilst Atemu got dressed. After having breakfast together, Yugi and Atemu opened up the game shop. Yugi stuck around till around mid-morning, then left to go meet the gang at the cinema.
* * *
Yugi and his friends were queuing up for drinks and snacks at the cinema and after quite a bit of discussion, they had all finally decided which film to see. Now all they had to do was decide on what snacks to buy. Or, as in the case of Jounouchi, Bakura, and Honda, what to leave for the other customers. The three of them seemed to be buying enough food for a siege, never mind just a two-hour film. Although as Anzu watched them trying to carry everything, she did have to admit, that with the way Jounouchi and Bakura's appetites were at times, there probably wouldn't be much of that food left by the time the film even started.
Since there was still quite a bit of time before the film was due to start, the group chatted quietly amongst themselves. After all it had been a couple of months since Bakura was able to visit, and so there was lots of gossip to catch up on, and finding out how all their lives had been going lately. The lights finally dimmed, indicating that the film was going to start. Although it didn't really start; it was really just the start of the obligatory fifteen minutes of pre-film adverts.
Since the film STILL hadn't started, the five friends carried on chatting somewhat, whilst also watching the ads a little. About ten minutes in, their attention was drawn to the screen by one of the ads.
The advert was saying things such as:
“We are searching for brave pioneering young men between the ages of 20 to 30 years of age, to take part in experimental pregnancy trials.” “Help bring hope to the childless. Help solve the problem of Japans falling birth-rate.” “Give the gift of life, and receive the greatest gift anyone could wish for; a son or Daughter!” It was also showing a group of professional looking people in white lab coats working in a medical clinic.
Yugi was absolutely captivated! These people were looking for men to volunteer for pregnancy related clinical trials? It sounded to him, very much like they were actually planning for the men to somehow get pregnant. He didn't know if that was possible, or even if that was what they were planning; but the one thing he did seize on, was the fact that they said the volunteers would have a child afterwards. They would become fathers.
The advert soon ended and a medical company logo was flashed onscreen along with a contact number for interested people to call. Yugi's mind was racing. Was this his chance? If he applied to this company, could he, a man, give birth to a child? Could he have a baby? And more importantly, would he be able to keep it? Raise it with his husband? Could he and Atemu truly have a family? He made his decision.
The friends were all talking about the advert. Actually, everyone in the cinema was talking about it. Anzu was saying what a great idea she thought it was. And how it seemed to her to be a perfect idea, to make the men do some of the work instead. Jounouchi and Honda were both saying that no way were THEY going to get knocked up anytime soon. Anzu naturally had to comment that they were obviously too scared of the idea. Bakura as always stayed calm and just simply commented that it was an interesting notion, but that it wasn't for him. Then commented that he didn't think he had childbearing hips anyway. The guys all laughed at that one.
It was then that Yugi finally spoke.
“I'm going to apply.” He said quietly. The others fell silent instantly.
“WHAT?” All four of them were staring at Yugi, shock evident on their faces.
“I'm going to apply.” Repeated Yugi, once the rest of the cinema goers were no longer looking over at the noisy group.
“Yugi, are you serious?” Jounouchi asked incredulously.
Yugi nodded and looked at his friends. They were still looking at him as if he had grown a second head. He sighed, and started to try and explain to them, his longing for a child. He explained to them a little about his former hopes, the ache he felt inside, and that empty hole in his and Atemu's lives which they had had to accept would never be filled. The film started as they talked, but was barely even acknowledged. Yugi tried to keep his explanations brief (They weren't exactly in the best place for such a conversation, and other people were now trying to watch the movie).
“Well, if you really want to apply, you know that we'll be behind you all the way.” Said Anzu. The others nodded in agreement.
“So, did you get the contact info?” asked Anzu. Yugi's face fell as he shook his head. He hadn't written down the phone number. Truth be told, he hadn't even really noticed what the company was called. Upon Yugi's confession of this fact, Bakura spoke up.
“Perhaps we could ask the cinema staff for the name of the company.” He suggested.
“There must be a record somewhere, of who is advertising at this cinema.” Anzu looked doubtful.
“I don't think that they're going to give out that sort of information.” She said. “And anyway, the general cinema staff probably wouldn't know anything any way. It would be the management who would sort out advertising.”
At this, Honda pointed out that the ordinary staff WOULD know something. “They work at the cinema.” He reasoned “They probably get into all the films for free. They'd be sure to know, since they've probably all seen the film half-a-dozen times already. They would at least know the company name by now.”
At this point, Jounouchi had a really bright idea. “You know, we don't really need to go to all the trouble of tracking down cinema staff in the know. We should just watch the advert again. This is a big cinema,” he stated. “There's a whole bunch of other screens showing this film. We could just wait a little, and then go out from our screen, and walk into one of the others that's starting a little later, and re-watch the adverts, get the contact details, and then actually watch the film, from the beginning, afterwards.” He gestured at the screen, where the film was still being ignored by the group.
They all thought that was the best idea, and so that's what they did. Anzu managed to find out which screen had the next showing of the film, and its start time, by making the excuse to the ticket checker that she was going out to the refreshments counter in the foyer to buy an ice-cream. Whilst there, it was a simple matter to glance over at the list of film times at the nearby ticket booth. Half an hour later, five people nonchalantly strolled out of one screen, and into the one almost straight across the corridor.
* * *
Atemu was in the game shop still. After a brief rush around lunchtime with all the children going home from school, it had quietened down once more. Atemu decided to restock the shelves whilst he had some time, and went out into the main part of the shop. As he worked, he listened to the radio and sang along with some of the songs when he knew them. After a while, there was a break for adverts. One of the adverts suddenly caught Atemu's notice. He listened closer to the compelling sound of the voice coming from the radio.
“Always wanted a child, yet couldn't have one? You're not alone! The Zetalife Foundation is searching for brave, pioneering young men between the ages of 20 to 30 years of age, to take part in revolutionary new medical research on pregnancy.
Our research will help bring hope to the childless, and could perhaps even solve the problem of Japans falling birth rate. Give the gift of life, and receive the greatest gift anyone could wish for - a son or Daughter of your very own.
Our research will help bring hope to the childless, and could perhaps even solve the problem of Japans falling birth rate. Give the gift of life, and receive the greatest gift anyone could wish for - a son or Daughter of your very own.
Join us as we stride boldly towards the future, and be part of something amazing.
Applicants should be male, non-smokers, between 20 to 30 years of age, and in good health. Just phone 03-5865-1095 to contact the Zetalife Foundation for more details.”
“Did I hear that right?” wondered Atemu “Was that advert suggesting that men could have babies?”
He wondered if he was perhaps mistaken in what he thought the advert was about. Was that sort of thing actually possible? More importantly, HOW could it be possible? Atemu once again marvelled at the wonders of modern day medical know how and medicines, compared to that which he had grown up with. Back in ancient Egypt, most of it would have been considered miraculous, and nothing short of magic.
“A man somehow bearing a child.” Atemu pondered the situation. He felt that it really was a huge thing to decide to do. “I wonder if they will actually get any volunteers?”
He mused on the topic for just a little while. Meanwhile, the ads finished and music started up again. After a few minutes, one of Yugi's favourite songs came on the radio. As he sang along, Atemu smiled, thinking about his husband and all the good times they had shared. The song ended and was replaced with a slow song that talked about two people pulling together through all sorts of hardships and adversities. Atemu recalled some of the trials that he and Yugi had battled through.
There had been Duellist kingdom, where the two of them had worked together to defeat Pegasus at his own game, and by doing so, had rescued the captured souls of Grandpa and the Kaiba brothers. Then of course, there was Battle City, where Yugi had been so supportive of his quest to enter the tournament and find his lost memories, and he had been so proud of Yugi through all the battles against Malik, when he was trying to kill Yugi and his friends. Of course, dealing with Malik was Childs play compared to Dartz and his Doom organisation. And because of his actions in that one duel...
Atemu thought about the horror he had felt, as Yugi pushed him out of the way of the Orichalcos, and allowed it to take himself in place of Atemu. And after he regained consciousness, and realised that Yugi was truly gone, he had felt such utter despair. He had never felt as truly helpless as he had at that moment. Except, he realised, for that one other time...
It had been New Year. He had been enjoying his first truly festive visit to a Shrine, but there had been something just a little off with Yugi's behaviour ever since they had arrived at the Shrine.
Several times during the day, he had noticed Yugi looking over at a young family that he had encountered on their arrival. He had eventually just decided to ask Yugi about his odd behaviour.
It had seemed to him, that Yugi had been almost in tears as he described the terrible sadness that he was feeling over the fact that they would never be a complete family. He had tried his best to comfort his then boyfriend, but he could easily tell that the deep longing that Yugi had just revealed to him was a very long held desire, so dear to Yugi's heart. He had wished that there could be something, anything, that he could have done to fulfil what was quite obviously one of Yugi's fondest wishes. Atemu recalled how at that moment, at the shrine, he would have given absolutely anything to grant that wish. To see Yugi's face lit with joy, instead of filled with grief. It just about broke his heart to see his treasured Yugi so despondent.
Atemu was brought out of his remembrances of the past by a sudden realisation. This was it! This was his chance! If these people were truly going to be doing what it seemed they were, then if he took part in this trial, perhaps he could make both his and Yugi's dreams come true. They could maybe have a child together. Maybe they COULD be a complete family after all. He nodded to himself, as he came to a decision. First he would need to wait till the advert was repeated in the next break, so that he could get the phone number. Then, he would apply!
* * *
Tucking the piece of paper in his pocket, Atemu sighed happily. It had taken almost two hours for the advert to be repeated. But, he finally had the phone number.
After the first two advert breaks had passed with no sign of the needed advert, he had started to become a little anxious. Every time the adverts had started, he had hovered near the radio, listening intently. He wasn't sure that the customer he had been serving was too impressed though, after she had had the misfortune to be in the shop when the adverts began playing, and he had virtually ignored her. Fortunately, she had accepted his apologies.
Even more fortunately, the shop had been empty for every other advert break, otherwise, he suspected a lot more apologies might have been required. He shrugged, it couldn't be helped; getting the number had just been so vital.
* * *
Yugi and friends left the cinema talking mostly about the film, and set off walking to the game shop. Before they arrived, however, Yugi came to a halt.
“Guys,” he began. “Please don't say anything to Atemu about that advert; the medical trials one. I really think that that's something I need to talk with him about when we're alone.”
After promising to keep quiet about it, the group entered the game shop.
* * *
After the gang had gone home, Atemu and Yugi cleared up. They put the used plates in the sink to wash later, and sat down with drinks. Both young men seemed somewhat nervous and fidgety, neither one speaking.
Yugi broke the silence first.
“Atemu, there's something that I wanted to discuss with you.” He said.
“Actually, there was something that I wanted to talk to you about also.” Responded Atemu. “But you first.”
“Well,” began Yugi nervously. “When we were at the cinema today, there was this advert for a medical company.”
“That's a coincidence.” thought Atemu.
“They were asking for men to volunteer for a medical trial. And, well, you're going to think I've gone mad, but it seemed to me that they were saying that the MEN would be pregnant.”
Atemu's mind had been working full speed as Yugi talked. “This advert, was it for the Zetalife Foundation?” He asked.
“Yes. Have you heard of them Atemu?”
“There was an advert on the radio. I think it may have been the same as yours. They were asking for men to volunteer for pregnancy trials.”
“I didn't know they had ads on the radio as well. Did you think they were saying they would make the men pregnant?”
“I have to admit that it did sound like it. Although it just seems so impossible.”
“Atemu, what would you say if I told you I wanted to apply for it?”
“You do?” Atemu looked slightly stunned for a moment, and then laughed. “I'd actually decided to apply for it myself.” Now it was Yugi's turn to look stunned.
“You had?”
Atemu took Yugi's hand in his own. “Of course. I'd do anything to have a child with you. Even carry it myself.” He grinned as he placed a hand on his perfectly flat stomach. Yugi grinned back, then looked serious once more.
“I don't know exactly what this trial is all about, but the advert DID say that the men would have children at the end of it.” Yugi said. “The one thing I do know is that I do want to do this. I want to try. To at least try to have a child. I'm going to volunteer for the medical trial.”
“Then even if it's you volunteering instead of me,” Said Atemu “I will still be supporting you every step of the way.”
“You don't think it's a hoax of some kind do you Atemu?” asked Yugi suddenly. “It's just that it DOES all seem a bit incredible; except it all sounded so genuine too.”
“I don't know. If it is a hoax, it's a cruel one. Surely though, no one would be so callous as to offer such a hope to people and then just take it away. Perhaps we could find out some more information about the company when we phone up.” Yugi nodded at that suggestion.
“Atemu, I just had a terrible thought. What if it is real, but they don't want me?” asked Yugi in a quiet voice. “What if they think I'm too short or that I'm not right in some other way?”
“They would be crazy not to accept you Yugi. I think you would make a perfect MOTHER.” Yugi pouted slightly at Atemu's teasing, which just led to Atemu laughing and, leaning forward to quickly place a kiss on Yugi's lips. “Being serious though, you do have a point. Perhaps I should still apply. After all, if we both apply for the program, there is more chance that one of us actually WILL get accepted.”
“Although I've also had a terrible thought Yugi. If we go through with this, we're going to need to sit down and explain it to everyone.”
“Oh that's okay. They already know. I told them at the cinema.” Yugi smiled at his husband.
Atemu smirked. “What about your Mother and Grandfather?”
* * *
(Three weeks later)
After getting off the bus, Yugi and Atemu stood for a moment, gazing across the road at their destination. The Zetalife Foundation.
After phoning the contact number, and leaving their details, they received a phone call arranging for them to attend a presentation at the Foundation, to fully explain the project.
The duo entered the building, and at the security desk they gave their names and showed their ID, and were directed up some stairs to a reception area.
Upon introducing themselves to the receptionist, Atemu and Yugi were each handed a sheaf of forms and told they needed to read and sign them before they would be permitted into the room where the presentation would be held. Finding that they merely forbade them from divulging the details of what they were about to be told, the two young men signed the forms and were ushered into the main room.
Yugi and Atemu looked around them. There looked to be around seventy men in the room, and a small handful of women, who the pair thought were possibly wives of some of the men. The room had several rows of chairs grouped together facing a podium at the front of the room. Most of the people were sat down, and Atemu and Yugi did likewise.
It was time for the presentation to start. Yugi and Atemu had spent the wait quietly, each of them lost in their thoughts. Hopes and fears reaching their peak. Now everyone was eagerly waiting for someone to come and tell everyone what exactly the medical trial was actually going to be about. Before too long, a man in a suit came out of a door at the front of the room, and stood at the podium. Those people who weren't already, sat down. As the man waited for everyone to be fully seated, a few more people came out of the door at the front, and sat on some seats at the side.
The first man began speaking.
“Thank-you for coming here today Gentlemen...and ladies. Before I begin, I would like to remind you all of the secrecy agreements that you all signed when you arrived here, and to point out that the Zetalife foundation will enforce the strictest penalties for anyone breaking those agreements.”
As they sat listening to the opening statements, Yugi's hand sought Atemu's. Atemu squeezed it gently. He could understand how Yugi must be feeling right now. After all, he was feeling the same way. This was it! For almost a month, they had been hoping and dreaming and wondering. This was the moment when they would find out if what they had barely even dared to dream, could possibly happen. Admittedly, the whole idea sounded too far fetched to even be possible, but after all the seemingly impossible things that had happened with the Millennium Items, He and Yugi couldn't help but hope that maybe, once more, they could get a miracle. They listened attentively as the presentation continued.
“First I should perhaps introduce myself. I am Doctor Ibon, head of the project behind this trial. Those of you who are accepted as volunteers will of course be seeing a lot of me and my staff. Now as for today, we will be having this main presentation to explain the project, after which, we will answer any questions which you may have. And, after that, any of you that do not wish to take part may leave.
The remaining men will be asked to fill in medical questionnaires, and will undergo a brief health check, and a short interview. All these will be used to make the final selection of the twenty five volunteers accepted for the trial. Throughout this time there will be staff on hand to answer any further queries and concerns that may arise.”
“Now I'm sure that you're all very curious about what exactly these medical trials will entail. Quite simply, the men who take part in the trial will all be making medical history! The aim of this trial is to allow any man to become pregnant, and carry a child to full term!”
At this statement, there were a few gasps heard around the room. Although, many of the men had already come to the same conclusions as Atemu and Yugi had. As the doctor spoke, Yugi's hand was gripping Atemu's tightly. As he gripped back, Atemu fervently hoped that one of them would actually get accepted for the trial. He didn't mind whether it was he or Yugi as long as one of them was successful.
“I don't care what it takes, or what I have to go through,” he thought, “if I can give Yugi the child he so longs for, it will be well worth it.” He turned his attention back to where Doctor Ibon was continuing.
“The big question that I'm sure you must all want to ask now is `How is this even possible?' Thanks to some recent advances in medical research, it has become possible to create near perfect replicas of certain internal organs. Although this research has not yet reached the stage where we can create artificial hearts, and other similar vital organs, it HAS reached the stage where this trial becomes possible.”
The Doctor started indicating various slides detailing figures and techniques, to highlight the processes he was explaining, as he continued his speech.
“I should tell you now, that the volunteers on this medical trial will be required to undergo some surgical procedures. You will each need to give a blood sample, for the purposes of tissue typing. This will then be used to create an artificial womb which will then be implanted into each of the volunteers. The process of creating these artificial organs will take about three months. Although the organs will be grown specifically to match each of your tissue types, the process has not yet been perfected, and so most of the matches will be very slightly inexact. This of course means that all the volunteers will need to have regular doses of anti-rejection drugs.
“After the operations we will wait six weeks, during which you will be carefully monitored for any complications or signs of rejection of the new organ. If all is going well, you will each be required to provide a sperm sample, which will be used to fertilise the donor eggs that will then be implanted in the wombs. And yes gentlemen, genetically these children WILL be yours.
“The resulting embryos will be implanted in you using a variation on standard IVF techniques.
“Now, as I'm sure you have all noticed, you're not women. As men, your bodies do not produce the same amounts of certain necessary hormones as a woman's body would. Because of this, starting shortly before you undergo IVF treatment, and continuing throughout the pregnancy, it will be necessary for you to have twice daily injections of hormones. There may be some non-pregnancy related side-effects from this, these will however, be only temporary, and will be fully reversible. Taking these hormones is NOT going to turn you into women.
“IVF treatments are not always immediately successful. If the IVF is not effective the first time, it will be necessary to repeat the process, but rest assured that the twenty-five men who are accepted as volunteers on this trial, will become pregnant, and will be the world's first pregnant men.
“Throughout the pregnancies, you will have full medical checkups every two weeks, to ensure that everything is progressing smoothly, and that there are no complications.
Also, for the duration of the trial, and the first five years after the children are born, there will be full and extensive health cover provided for you and your families, free of charge.
“When it comes time to deliver the children, the births, as you might imagine, will all have to be caesareans.
“It will not be possible for the wombs to remain functioning within you indefinitely, and it is probable that they will eventually need to be removed, if this is the case, more surgery will be required, but this will be kept as minimal as possible. However there is a small chance that removal will not be necessary.”
As his presentation finally started to draw to a close, Doctor Ibon paused. He looked around the room at the prospective volunteers before continuing with his final statements.
“Now that you have all heard the basics of the trial, we will answer any questions that you might have. We will then hand out medical questionnaires for you to fill in, and commence with the interviews and medical checkups. Refreshments will be provided in the other room whilst you are filling out the questionnaires.”
* * *
Atemu had already finished filling in the very in depth medical questionnaire, and was now off having his blood pressure checked; among other things. As he continued filling in his own questionnaire, Yugi thought about the question and answer session that had followed the presentation, and in particular, the final question that had been asked.
One of the volunteers had wondered about the media. About how come, with all the recruitment adverts that there had been, the details of the project hadn't yet hit the headlines? And what would happen once the media actually did get hold of the story? After all, with something as world changing as male pregnancies, the press would surely have a field day.
Upon being asked about media attention, Doctor Ibon had conceded that with something as revolutionary as male pregnancies, it WAS just a matter of time before the media got hold of all the details of the project, and released the story. He explained that the Zetalife Foundation had with great difficulty, managed to keep the media from getting hold of the story already, but that eventually they would, without doubt, find out the full details of the trial. He also said that once that happened, the identities of the volunteers WOULD be discovered. The doctor then assured the men that the press did not - as of yet - have any actual details of the project. They knew from the advertising campaign that `something' was happening, but all they had was little more than rumours. Thanks mainly to a lot of careful misdirection by the Foundation in response to all media enquiries.
It was also revealed that not all the people who had enquired about the trial had been invited along today. All the volunteers who were there that day, had had background checks to ensure that they didn't have any connections to the media services, and so were not likely to be media spies. Yugi had had a slight moment of panic at that point - thinking about Atemu's fabricated past - but realised that the mere fact that he and Atemu had been invited, meant that it must have passed scrutiny. Kaiba's people had obviously done an exceptional job all those years ago. Not that he would ever admit that to Kaiba!
Doctor Ibon also added that once the media found out the full aims of the medical trials, the project would lose a lot of its secrecy. It was almost certain that the identities of the participants would soon come to light, and they would likely be in the media spotlight for much of the remainders of their pregnancies. So, anybody participating in the trial had to be mindful of the fact that they were going to lose a lot of the privacy in their lives.
There was a rather long silence after that, as if the group was contemplating that thought. And indeed, as he looked around now, Yugi felt that there appeared to be far fewer men now than there had been for the presentation. In fact, it looked as if barely 50 men had stuck around to fill in the questionnaires, and be interviewed. Although, he supposed, that might have more to do with some of the things that would be required of them for this trial.
He couldn't really blame them. All the different surgeries that they would need... As Yugi readily admitted to himself, the very thought of it made him feel scared beyond belief. As he continued to answer the questions, he wondered absently if Atemu felt the same way.
* * *
The next day, the various scientists in charge of the pregnancy project were going through the details gained on each of the candidates from the questionnaires, medical check-ups, and interviews, trying to decide on the final twenty-five men. After several of the applicants in a row had just been eliminated on medical grounds, one frustrated scientist finally came upon a candidate that seemed absolutely perfect.
He showed the file to his colleagues, a couple of whom were less than enthusiastic about the choice.
“That's one of those two men that were married to each other.” said one of the doubters, upon being questioned about their reluctance. “When we did the initial background checks on the volunteers, it was found that two of them were actually married to one another; a gay couple. They both got invited along anyway, but I'm just not sure whether either of the Mutous would be very suitable for the trial. With all the controversy that this program is going to attract, do we really want to deliberately invite extra debate by having one of the participants being part of a gay couple? However perfect they might be as candidates, I simply don't think we should have either one of them.”
After that rather blunt statement, the first scientist put the folder containing the candidate's details to one side.
“We are running out of possible test subjects' here.” he said, gesturing at the growing pile of folders, from the definitely eliminated volunteers. “If it carries on like this, we're going to be hard pushed to get the necessary number of suitable participants. If that's the situation, controversy or not, you might HAVE to accept one of them onto the trial.”
Authors note2.
Many thanks to Seers atemu for beta reading this.
If I go another few months without updates, feel free to start badgering me about it.
Flames WILL be ignored. However, comments, advice, and constructive criticism are all welcomed. Also, feel very free to point out any big glaring mistakes that I make (How else am I gonna learn?)