Title: Could Never Win
Author: chattenoire
Fandom: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Pairing: Joe/Dex
Rating: G
Notes: I'll take constructive criticism, anything that you come up with. It's unbeta-ed, so anything is useful.
Summary: No matter what they say, the truth of it is that odds are against you.
Disclaimer: No ownership by me, they just take control occasionally.
"Could Never Win"
It was simple when he looked at it. Life was simple. He was the smart one, the mechanically minded one, the good one. The one who always knew how to fix what was wrong and make it right. Whether making it right was fixing Franky's fleet so that they could fly or keeping the planes up and running, Dex could make things work. After all, he managed to fix the Cap's plane after hurricane Polly and still was able to find her somewhat agreeable.
He was the go-to guy, as simple as that. He was well liked, appreciated, Joe's best friend and in control. As long as he was able to pause for a fraction of a second, he could solve the problem and take care of it. He was a good boy: a prime example of the All American boy scout, albeit he always had better resources. He provided the mental stability that an outfit as large as the Flying Legion required, and for that he was a good boy.
When Franky would come by with a favor, he would do it. Not because of Franky, but because he was Joe's good boy and that was his job. He dealt with Polly's constant camera-snapping because she was a part of Joe's life. So, because of being part of Joe's she could invade his and he would deal with it.
When it came time to go home for the day, he would have everything taken care of. No gum left behind, all blueprints rolled up and no last envious look at Joe. He wouldn't because he was a good boy, and good boys didn't do that. He was happy for Franky, or Polly, or Joe, becuase he was a good boy. He was always the good boy and he never questioned what he could and could not do. What he wasn't even supposed to think he could do.
When talking to Joe he was the good boy and Joe was the Captain and they would banter back and forth. Dex knew, he knew that in those moments between the brave, beautiful, daring women, he wasn't the good boy. He was the one that Joe would go to at night, he was the one who was Joe's good time. The one that there would be no problems for Joe to go back to. Then, Joe would call him a good boy again and the victory would fade like the after image sparks. Dex was Joe's good boy and he hated it.
He hated it because, no matter what they said, what they did, what amount of time would go by, good boys could never win.
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