A/N: So, here is two firsts in one. First Tron fic EVER! And the fic I have EVER managed to finished... Even if it is a three part venture; Might be cut down to two, but no guarantees. Also, apologies to fans of my other fics. I've been meaning to get new chapters for them done, but have been cut off from the internet for some asinine reason that I fail to compute.
Sum: When Flynn disappears, everything changes. But what happens to those not willing to let go, those willing to fight for what was? For one woman, following Flynn to the ends of the earth is more than a hollow promise. Little OC/Flynn if you squint.
Deus Ex Machina Part I: Aporia
Chapter 1: Rhythm
By: Tamuril Telrunye A.K.A Bamvivirie
Saturday
The night air seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the jukebox as it belted out one hit after another, swirling around arcade as teens and adults alike pounded little multicolored buttons. The sounds of laughter, frustration, fear and anger littering the night air as I made my way through the crowd helmet under one arm, long black hair swishing as I moved forward hell bent on my destination.
Cutting through the crowds at this time of night was hell, but it was worth it to ditch the daylight hours that seemed to drag, and take the night managers position in my opinion. Flynn's arcade had long since sprung to life, night bringing out the characters to colorful for the day lit existence, as it seemed to hum with life in all its extremes.
I grinned as I cooed over my domain; noting how busy it was tonight, a boon to its owner. Spurred on by the fame and fortune of its namesake, and creator the once small arcade had bloomed overnight now offering every game that could be imagined... And some, in my opinion that couldn't.
I shouted greetings to the few employees I caught sight of before my arrive to the office, and hi-fived the day manager Kelly before mounting the stairs, and swinging helmet up into its normal position on above the lockers upon arrival. My leather riding jacket soon hung from its usual peg, and rolled my eyes as I noticed Jim's umbrella in the spot he usually left it when forgotten.
Turning I smoothed out my helmet mussed hair in a mirror that stood between the door and the corner of the office before I gave a quick grin. Kicking the door shut as I moved to sit in the frumpy old office chair, moving some old coffee cups out of the way, before opening up the ledgers with a grimace. Flynn always said we could hire anyone we wanted to take care of them, but anyone we wanted was not necessarily anyone we could trust. Flicking on the frumpy green lamp that had resided in that particular corner of the office forever, I set the books back down before moving to the window that overlooked the arcade.
I pulled the curtains open, before I heard the sound of the door; a hand making me jump, and wield an elbow with deadly (In his opinion) accuracy. I rolled my eyes, before glaring down at the man doubled up before me. Flynn gave out a groan, not entirely faked but definitely over exaggerated for the small amount of force I'd put into it.
"Well, if you didn't insist on sneaking up on me. I wouldn't end up elbowing you quiet as often."
"Damn Miri," He said, blue eyes giving me his megawatt kicked puppy look, "But you use your elbows even when I don't sneak up on yah."
"I said 'As often', which does not include when I decide to elbow you for being a turd." I said lifting my elbow like it was some sort of weapon as I stuck my tongue out. Flynn rolled his eyes at me, standard banter producing the same results that had emerged from the two of us since we were quiet literally children.
I grabbed the ledger, shoving it under one arm before whistling down to trying to catch a certain individual's attention. A skinny sixteen year old answering back with a whistle of his own.
"Hey Mick! Go pick up a couple of sandwiches for us?" I called to him, tossing him some money as he gave me a thumbs up.
"Two roast beef on rye the works, one ham and Swiss?" The kid called back, in question.
"Make that two ham! Got a really big one up here. And get yourself a drink or something while you're at it." I called back as gave me another thumbs up and jogged off.
"Can't believe you called me a ham." Flynn said flopping down on the couch, still rubbing his stomach. "Should take you to the Grid, have you teach Tron how to use those elbows of doom."
"A likely story," I said flopping down next to him, and kicking off my shoes. "But something tells me you'd drop me in there, and throw away the key."
"I would never do that," He said grunting again as I plopped my feet on his stomach, "Although I will say its tempting, I don't think Tron or Clu deserve it."
"What? You don't think two fine gentlemen deserve to be in the presence of a goddess like myself? Flynn, I'm touched."
"There you go again, setting yourself up like your some divine gift." He said yanking open a convenient mini-fridge and pulling out a pair of soda's, one regular one strawberry. He tossed the strawberry to me before wrenching his own open.
"Well someone has to acknowledge the truth," I said setting mine down before flipping the pages of the ledger, comparing amounts and placing numbers in the appropriate places. This little dance of insult and counter had been ours for a very long time, starting out long before he'd claimed the spot light.
A knock on the door heralded Micks return, and the boy danced through the doorway grin in place.
"Hu, figure's it'd be that type of ham." Mick said as he dropped the brown deli bag on the coffee table's surface. "Hey Flynn."
"Hey kid," Flynn said sitting up, knocking my feet down in the process. I pouted in response, before dropping my feet to the ground and grabbing my share of the bounty. "How's school going for yah?"
"Pretty good," Mick said, as Flynn grabbed a Dr. Pepper from the fridge tossing it to the kid while I tore into my own dinner/breakfast. I was admittedly, a late riser. So this might as well have been my breakfast. The setup of the office was very much like the bastard child mix of kitchen and living room, containing everything anyone might need to get by without actually going home. Well, sans a spare change of clothes unless you're like me, and have then in your locker anyways.
Flynn kept spares here too, a nice suit in-case he had to run to the office for anything official after his... Other work and a set of regular clothes in-case he didn't have the chance to run home. I would sometimes come in on Monday's (Monday was the only day we were closed, for maintenance usually since it was the least busy day of the week) and find him slumped out on the couch, like some dead thing. Or dead tired thing if you asked me, poor man had to much on his plate for my tastes.
What with Sam, Encom, and being god and all. Ok, so he wasn't god, he was creator of some digital world that he kept hidden in the basement, but still. That's a tough game any-day. But hey, as one of his oldest friend's (In close contention with Alan mind you, or Tron if you go digital) I was there to help in any way I could.
We bantered back and forth a bit more with Mick before the kid left no small amount of hero worship on his face as he left. I could never honestly tell which of us it was he directed that look at, but it didn't matter he was a good kid.
Eventually Flynn left to do his bit, and I watched him go grinning at his ninja like disappearance behind the Tron machine. No one ever seemed to notice him doing it either, well except for me. Turning, I went back to the books patiently playing tag with numbers as the night went by.
To be honest, I never could really admit to being relieved until I knew he'd gotten back in one piece. Stupid male and his god complex. Oh not the bad kind don't look at me like that, he has the 'I must fix everything! EVER!' kind of god complex, doesn't really know when to quit, unfortunately.
It's part of why I insisted he give me the job at the arcade, to be honest. True, didn't hurt that I'd been unemployed and he'd been desperate for someone who could do the job without breaking people. Customers could get out of hand every once in a while, and I had a special brand of 'Don't Fuck with this' that I got from being beat cop's daughter.
It worked out beautifully after the initial show for the bar patrons next door, when one of them decided to hit on the 'Pretty lil Thang on the bike'. Yeah, yellowed teeth and matted hair never really screamed attractive to me, but I am sure there's a troll somewhere who'd be perfect for that fellow. I am not however, so I showed him in no uncertain terms that it was best if he move right along.
I rearranged things on the desk in front of me, before moving to lock up for the night and power down the machines. The sound of the Tron machine moving gave me no small bit of relief, and I moved to loop Flynn's arm around my shoulders supporting him a bit as he stumbled looking at me sourly as we trudged up the stairs.
"How is it you always manage to do that?" He said, long after I managed to get him to the overstuffed brown couch.
"Hmm?" I queried back with a knowing smile.
"Catch me before I trip, how do you do that?"
"I just know when you're stretching yourself too far," I said, moving to refill the coffee pot "I mean, come on Flynn, how often did I have to drag you back from the library when we were college students eh?"
"To often for me to remember." He said, with a hint of a laugh.
"Hey Flynn," I said grabbing my helmet, "Your to tired to do shit, take the day off from work."
"Yes mother," He said as I tossed an old afghan at him before grabbing my jacket, I moved towards the door, closing it behind me quietly. Another day, another dawn.
A/N: Actually got this part finished, whither or not I finish the second and third parts are dependent on whither or not I die of bored between then and now.
