Doppler Rex
Rated K+
Chapter 2 - Breaking Icebergs
"Remember that time when I downgraded your living quarters because you broke protocol?"
Rex thought very hard and finally shook his head. "Umm, no?"
Six fought an urge to smile. It was cute when he was clueless. "Tonight your sleeping in the vacuum closet. Now stop tormenting Match and get to the briefing room." He gently laid a hand on the trunk of a tall evo with strange hair that closely resembled the top of a tree. It seemed to shrink at the agent's touch and slowly, very slowly returned to its artificial forest. "These evo's are under close observation by the research department. Do you really want to hinder Dr. Holiday's work?"
Rex looked at him blankly. "Six, chill. Maybe if Providence let me have a real breath of fresh air once in a while, I wouldn't have to pull my wheels out in here for a joy ride."
Six had considered spending time with Rex in a chaperone capacity for that very reason, but he could never build up enough confidence to ask. "People are falling into comas all over the capital city," Six said ignoring the complaint. "The evo is able to attack and retreat without being detected because it can pass through solid walls."
Rex wasn't particularly interested. "Man, I feel like I'm still missing a few nanites from yesterday's hostile jelly platter." He arched is back and stretched his arms.
Six recalled their encounter the night before. "Bad sleep?" he asked assumingly.
"You kidding?" he said with a smirk. "Slept like White Knight after he reads an evo holocaust bedtime story."
Six paused and studied him closely. "You should get a check up by Dr. Holiday before you go."
"Why? I feel fine. Seriously, I'm good to go," he said confidently.
"It wasn't a suggestion."
"If I didn't know any better," Rex said with pleasant suspicion, "I'd say you are actually, genuinely, concerned for my well being." Rex playfully smacked him on the shoulder, which Six didn't react to in any way. "I knew you had something vaguely resembling a heart in there."
Six returned his accusation with a stern stare. Without a word, he spun around and started walking. Rex jogged up to his side.
"What's up with this evo? So it can walk through walls huh? Neat."
"Providence soldiers are already being dispatched to take a perimeter around the city. Last sights of its handy work locate it near an opera house."
"I bet it can walk through people too." Rex's eyes widened. "What if I can't get my hands on it because it will be all, you know, go-throughable?"
"I'm sure you'll find a way." He glanced at Rex who looked a bit bewildered like he wasn't all there. "Once we get you in the air and throw you out a hatch, you'll be back to your usual self," he said as if it was written in a book.
Rex leaned back slightly and stuck his hands in his pockets, a gentle smirk on his face. He was clearly thinking about an invigorating free fall through the blue sky onto an unsuspecting evo.
"Admit it Six. You think I'm awesome."
Six looked at him blankly. It appeared Rex was going to stare at him with a smug expression until he responded. He gazed into Rex's dark eyes and then at his thick and curvy eyebrows. He admired the well proportioned nose and the charming curve of his smile. He always found Rex handsome in an observant way, but to feel an actual attraction, that was something new.
Rex's expression slowly grew puzzled as they continued to stare at each other. He brought the back of his hand near his mouth and leaned in closer to Six. "I know you do Six," he whispered playfully. "Don't worry I won't tell anybody."
Six felt Rex's warm breath against his skin causing the hairs on his neck to stand up. Keeping it cool, he let Rex have his small victory in mockery and simply raised an eyebrow.
Rex straightened back. "Hey Six," he said in a more normal voice. "After I'm done with this evo maybe ... you and I could ... hang out." He smiled awkwardly expecting Six to sternly refuse.
"You wish to meditate again?"
"Uhhh ... I was thinking about something a little less boring. And what do you mean again? Dude, I do not meditate." He laughed. "We could do whatever, go blow up Dr. Holiday's laboratory, torment and crack ugly jokes at Van Kleiss, parachuteless sky diving, go for pizza?"
Six thought his response to meditating was odd, but he assumed he just didn't want to do it again. As for the invitation, he wanted to just say yes, but would it be too rash? He had always instinctively avoided socializing with anyone, even women he found attractive. But now an attractive young man was asking, a huge leap out of his comfort zone. There was no way in hell he was going to say yes. Was there?
Six frowned and faced Rex. He found it impossible to reject him. For the first time in a while, he felt his emotions start to take over. Slowly, he nodded.
"Really?" Rex said with calm surprise. "Hey alright! I have an even better idea. We take Bobo's guns and stuff them with bananas..."
Six's mind was usually focused on the mission at hand, tactical details, evo strengths and weaknesses, but right then, most of his thoughts just lingered on Rex and the type of person Six wanted to be for him. It was all very confusing to think about. There were emotional barriers and romantic feelings crashing together like opposing tidal waves. Playing it cool was no longer going to be easy.
