Chapter 2
Noah ran back and gave a running start. He jumped up and kicked Rex in the face.
Rex reeled for a moment, but hunched to land a swift fist into Noah's stomach. Noah retaliated by grabbing his arm and flipping Rex over his shoulder.
It was a fierce fight. Fists flew, blows made contact, they were knocked over repeatedly, but neither of them would stay down.
Noah arched himself. He could see Rex was getting tired. Noah punched him again, almost there, Rex was dizzy. Finally, he threw the last blow.
He put all his force into his arm, and all he could see was red as his hand sunk into Rex's chest. He gripped Rex's heart and ripped it out, holding it triumphantly over his head.
VICTORY: NOAH The screen flashed.
Rex stared dumbly at the TV as his character's blood dripped in the game, "No way."
"Yes!" Noah fist pumped, "Who fails what, now?"
"How'd you get that move to work?"
"Oh," Noah flipped the controller in his hand, "I have my ways."
"Internet game guide?"
"Oh yeah."
"Some gamer you are."
"Still would've kicked your butt without it."
"Well I want a rematch."
"Bring it."
Noah pressed start and the screen transitioned again, the rooftop arena from before changed to a back-alley crowd cheering their characters on. They leaned forward, ready to fight again.
The week had been rough on them. Rex had been globe hopping half the time chasing a flurry of EVO dolphins of all things that may or may not have been possibly related to Van Kleiss's whereabouts, as well as cramming at the last minute for an English test (of all things). And while Noah's time didn't involve EVO tracking, he did spend the odd hour here and there fending off the occasional squirrel. It seemed they either remembered his scent from his fighting with Rex or they passed it along to their friends, but either way, Noah became pretty handy at beating small furry animals away with a textbook ("Yeah! Your butt just got handed to you by No-Mercy Noah and his Abridged American History book- Of Death!"). Also, because of those squirrely interruptions, that paper on geothermal energy had to create itself overnight.
Yes, it was a tough week, but the weekend was finally here. After a morning fight with a familiar EVO problem that day, there wasn't anything left to do but drown out any remotely useful knowledge with video games.
Rex and Noah's overly muscular characters continued to pummel each other as the time wound down. They played shoulder-to-shoulder, shoving into each other whenever they threw a fist or a foot. Wet, cracking punches repeatedly landed as the background music and cheers grew louder and they leaned further towards the screen. The last ten seconds flashed at the top, and their health bars both pulsed low.
10! 9! 8! The screen and crowd yelled.
Rex mashed buttons, Noah pounded on his. The final two seconds ticked. Their characters both threw a punch and then-
Double knockout!
Draw!
They stared at the television, both out of awe and extreme disappointment.
"Aw, what? No way!" Rex gaped.
He slouched over and crossed his arms, "So much for a rematch."
"Well," Noah turned to him, "Wanna try a rematch for the rematch?"
"Hm, not really," Rex tossed his controller aside, "Dunno about you, but getting a tie kills it for me."
Noah shrugged, "Seems cool to me. How many times do you get a simultaneous punch-out anyway?"
"...True."
Noah felt his fingers cramping up though, "Agh, ouch...Uh, guess I could use a break too."
He flexed his thumbs and hands. He needed a break more than he thought. Beside him, Rex stood and reached for his cola on a nearby table, "So, what'd you think about Señor Squirrel today?" Rex took a gulp and sat on Noah's bed.
Noah shrugged as he got up and opened the window. "I don't know," he replied, "Didn't seem too different today."
The room was warm from them and the heat of the television and game system, but the fall breeze instantly alleviated it. Noah leaned against his desk and looked back over at Rex, "But, I guess it seemed pretty easy. It's been getting easier fighting it, right?"
"Yeah," Rex set the soda down and fell back over Noah's bed, "It's been taking a few hits and then just running off. Pretty fishy, huh?"
"Seems pretty nuts to me."
Rex turned to Noah and gave him a hard look. Noah challenged it back, "...what?"
"So, you get to make the nut themed one-liners now and I don't."
"Rex, your one-liners got old three fights ago."
"That's the same one I said five fights ago!"
"Well," Noah shrugged, "When it works, it works. You don't have to go nuts over it."
A pillow flew at Noah's face. POOF.
Rex smirked, "Yeah. Anyway, Doc said they might be getting ready for something big, so keep an eye out for it. White Knight's getting on my case about it, too."
"Okay, sure," Noah nodded and threw his pillow back with a grin, "If something comes up, I'll call you."
Noah paused on that thought for a second, "Hey, how long have we been fighting it, anyway?"
Rex yawned from under the weight that pillow, "Way too long, Noah. Way too long."
He stretched out again, getting comfortable over Noah's bed. The television was still stuck on the ending screen. The same fight music kept playing, waiting for Rex or Noah to press a button to continue, but they just left it. Rex settled himself into Noah's pillow and stared at the ceiling, "Hmm. I could use a nap... If you see Señor Squirrel again, take a message for me, okay?"
Noah tilted his head and smirked, "I'll let it know you're in a meeting."
Rex chuckled, gave a thumbs up in approval, and closed his eyes.
Noah smiled and turned his attention outside. A break from the yelling and shoving was nice. He shifted up and sat on his desk, enjoying a quiet, calm pause. Ever since Providence came into his life, times like these were just all too rare.
The cool autumn air felt good as it flowed in from the window. It was really just a beautiful day to do anything, everything, or nothing at all. It was completely agreeable all around.
Noah's eyes wandered over to the trees in his neighborhood. The leaves were thick and crisping, almost ready to fall for the coming winter.
He leaned against the open window pane and hung a leg outside, starting to feel lazy and tired himself. Behind him, Rex opened his eyes and peered over.
Sometimes he couldn't help it. He liked looking at Noah; it was just a habit he developed somewhere along the way.
His eyes settled on him. He soon looked away though, suddenly feeling that tic from before, that thing that Noah was probably talking about then. It was that little thing that seemed to push him away, that one thing he noticed now.
...Yeah, it was weird.
He looked back, though, ignoring that impulse. He didn't understand why he felt the want to look away and didn't really care. He wouldn't let anyone restrain him in any way, much less himself.
Besides, it was nice just looking at him. It was nice just looking at Noah. There wasn't any harm in it anyhow. It was just... Noah, after all.
It was just Noah.
Noah, his friend, was one of the few things in his life that Rex admitted he needed.
Noah, his friendship, and everything that tied to him, all became indispensible to Rex one way or another. Just knowing he had someone like him in his life somewhere was incredibly invaluable.
He just fit so well into his life. Noah was an anchor for him without weighing him down. He was that small bit of reality he didn't mind. He was the order he secretly wished for out of so many days of chaos. He was that small, truly precious bit of normality Rex never thought he'd really know.
Noah didn't know it, and maybe Rex didn't completely grasp it either, but Rex was grateful to Noah for so many things. He was locked into his life before Rex even knew it.
From that far side of the room, Rex smiled at Noah for no reason in particular. He smiled just to smile at his friend.
He turned his eyes away, purposely this time, and promptly fell asleep.
With school, fights, and homework filling their days, the time easily passed. There was just so much to do as autumn made itself ever more apparent.
It was tough on Noah with all his studying and tutoring, but with everything that consumed his life, it was much tougher on Rex. Whatever Noah had to do, Rex had to do as well, including pounding EVOs. Although, to be honest, EVO beatings were actually fun (when he was winning anyway).
Rex tapped his pencil on his desk, staring blankly at the review paper in front of him. He saw the words, but could not understand any of them. Around them was the quiet noise of Providence activity outside his door, but Rex couldn't really hear anything.
The pinnacle of his week had been a fight with Van Kleiss, and while he stopped his plan easily enough, there was something, a small thing, about it that was still stuck on his mind.
He could feel Noah shift against his shoulder. Noah looked at Rex.
"Uh, don't think that's gonna work," He said.
Rex looked over, suddenly taken out of his aimless zoning, "...What?"
Noah tugged at the corner of his paper, "The staring thing? Believe me, I've tried it and no matter how desperate you are, information CANNOT just be beamed into your head."
Rex grinned, "Maybe not for you, but I think it's been working pretty well for me."
"Yeah?" Noah took the paper out from his hand and examined it. He looked at Rex expectantly, "Volume of a cylinder."
He stared and blanked.
Rex flattened his face against his desk in defeat, "...Didn't download that one yet."
Noah laughed, "Don't you know these already? You think with all the reviewing we've done, they'd have stuck by now." Rex nudged him hard.
"Pretty sure they got knocked out of my head when Van Kleiss punched me in the face."
"Did he have to punch very hard?"
Rex laughed. He should have seen that one coming. "Probably not since I was still conscious after that."
"I mean, barely," he added, "Just enough to see him get away." He grumbled as he picked himself up and reclined back into his chair, "Conscious enough to see Circe was there..."
Noah looked over at him, "Yeah?"
He nodded, "Yeah, in Abysus when Breach saved his butt. Weird huh? After how long?"
That's right. How long had it been since Rex last saw Circe? Noah heard him talk about her sometimes, especially after he just encountered her, but it had been a while. Noah sometimes didn't really know what to make of it when he talked about her, though.
"She gave you that huge bruise last time, right?"
"The one that covered half my back? Yeah," Rex paused, then laughed, "Wait, I get it. She didn't say hi this time because she still feels guilty over that."
Noah smiled and rolled his eyes. Rex continued on, "She doesn't know I'm already over it. If she ever lets me get a word in next time I see her, I'll have to tell her I forgive her. This time."
When he saw that look Noah had on his face, Rex shrugged his shoulders with a smug expression, "She'll listen, you'll see. I've been wearing her down. She'll leave team Van Kleiss soon enough, just gotta find the right time to expose him to her."
Noah couldn't wipe the smile from his face as he let himself back to writing equations on cards. Rex started talking about possible Van Kleiss exposés.
Sometimes it was funny when Rex talked about her. Well, it was just funny when Rex talked about any girl. Noah had to admit that his exaggerations did make his stories seem interesting.
Although, when it came to his out-loud inner monologues about Circe in particular, Noah couldn't really find an opinion about it. He felt weird about that. He wanted to root Rex on, he honestly did, but he just couldn't find it to egg him on as he liked. Noah hadn't seen her since Cabo Luna, and he remembered she was pretty cute, but he just couldn't really make an opinion of her. He didn't know her outside of Rex's stories, and he knew better than to believe everything Rex said.
Besides, he kind of felt even weirder that Rex was so focused on her sometimes. Even in his embellished stories, Noah picked up that she really didn't seem like she wanted much to do with Rex at all. And even though he could understand Rex wanted to help her, Noah wondered why he tried so hard when she so often pushed him away. It was weird on Rex's part. Maybe Noah just didn't know the whole story between them, and maybe she just didn't let on completely why she pushed Rex away, but Noah settled that it must be partly why he didn't really know what to think about her. She must be something though, Noah thought, if Rex was so distracted by her sometimes.
He wanted to support him, but he just couldn't. It shouldn't have bothered him so much.
Rex quieted down, smiling like an idiot for whatever outrageous plan he cooked up in his head. No doubt it was spectacularly epic, concluding with some brilliant flourish that undeniably made him look absolutely heroic.
He zoned out again, and Noah waved some flash cards in front of his face, "Earth to Rex, you have an exam to study for, remember?"
He snapped out of it, "Oh- yeah." He smiled.
They left it after that. Whatever they were talking about before was easily lost between triumphant answers and studying gripes.
It was finally Saturday again. The week flew by quick.
It was eerily tame as far as EVO combats went, but Rex and Noah figured they'd ride it out while they could. Rex's exam also passed by days ago, and from what he could recount, it went fairly well. Although, he didn't remember much of it by the time Friday rolled around.
The house was relatively quiet with just the two of them hanging out in the afternoon. Rex laid back over Noah's couch, flipping through the channels to find the right one. He flipped through as quick as he could, hoping he'd find it in time and cursing at himself for losing Noah's TV guide all that time ago. He started pounding on the buttons; he was getting frustrated because tonight was special.
Yes, it was very special, because it was the night that Zombie Dinner Party was showing. It was an all-out zombie movie madness marathon. They anticipated it to be intense.
Noah found the biggest bowl he had and filled it with as much popcorn he could pile on. Rex had brought over a huge bag of kernels for their enjoyment (surreptitiously swiped from a Providence pantry).
"Found it!" Rex yelled to kitchen.
"Awesome," Noah walked out with a massive mountain of food in one arm and a box of sodas in the other hand. Rex took the bowl and immediately started eating.
"Five minutes," Rex grinned. A commercial played for the marathon while a countdown timer hovered in a corner.
"Five of the best classic movies in a row," Noah nodded in approval, "This is gonna be one epic night."
"Yeah, it'll be nice seeing someone ELSE be a zombie instead of me feeling like one from studying."
Noah laughed, "Wait 'til you get into the harder stuff."
Rex stuffed another handful of popcorn into his mouth, "Maybe I'll just skip all the learning and reviewing and just go straight to eating your brain."
"You sure? It might be too much for your brain to handle all at once," Noah grinned and Rex pelted him with popcorn kernels. Noah threw some back.
It wasn't too long until the last minute before the marathon ticked. Noah stood up and to shut off the lights and close out the windows. He jumped back onto the couch next to Rex and dug his hand through the popcorn. He tossed Rex a soda and popped one open himself.
Finally, the opening credits rolled. The title screen faded into black and white as painted introduction cards read off the production studio and head staff. Rex and Noah laughed when they saw still shots of the actors, awkwardly covered in fake, torn skin with stupid expressions on their faces as cheesy music and exaggerated screams played.
Zombie films reeled hour after hour in blood and gore, and the afternoon soon grew into the evening. There was almost nonstop laughter in between genuine thrills and suspense scenes as the old movies upped in quality and transitioned to more recent works.
As a fresh splatter of fake blood coated the camera lens, Rex laughed and Noah glanced to the side at him. It suddenly struck him that as he and Rex leaned back and sunk into Noah's couch, they ended up leaning on each over the course of the marathon. It was pretty strange, because Noah didn't really expect that, although it felt completely normal. He was more surprised that he didn't notice until now.
Now that Noah thought about it, it seemed like he was usually in contact with Rex in one way or another when they hung out. Either he was sitting close enough to Rex to be getting in his way when he was writing, Rex had an arm over him while he was talking, or they were shoving each other for whatever reason in competing. It seemed like they were just usually touching somehow, even if it were just brief brushes here and there as well.
While the movies played on, sometimes Noah could feel that want to move, though. It was that strange urge to shift himself away because Rex was too close by, but he ignored it.
Although, he wondered as someone's arm was torn off on screen, were they closing in a distance? It somehow felt they might have grown closer in some way, but Noah couldn't really tell. Was it because they were ignoring these restraints and hold backs now, or was all this really just them being...Them? Maybe it could be both? And more importantly, why was he thinking all this anyway? Maybe he was just overanalyzing it.
Noah put that thought aside for a moment, because the popcorn bowl was empty.
He had reached in and found nothing but unpopped kernels with little else. Noah nudged Rex, "Hey, how's the soda situation?"
Rex looked over to the box, "No shortage here."
"All right, I'll get more popcorn."
Noah felt Rex's weight lift off his shoulder as he stood up from the couch. Behind him he could hear a soft thud as Rex fell over, not bothering to readjust himself when Noah pulled away. Noah looked over as he went into the kitchen, "Hey, Rex, how about hitting pause for me?"
Rex stared at the TV, grinning, "...Heh. That's almost funny, Noah."
"I try when I can," Noah dumped some kernels in a different bowl and hit the turbo, trying to pop up as much as he could as soon as he could.
When he came back, popcorn in hand, Noah looked over the couch again. Rex was still in the same place.
"Hey, Rex, move over."
But, Rex didn't move. He widened his eyes and stared up at Noah blankly for a few seconds. He opened his mouth and emitted a slow, low groan.
"Braaaaains."
Noah paused for a moment, and then took that as his cue. He grinned and hunched over a little, groaning as well and widening his eyes, "Braaaaaaains?"
Rex sat up and stood, slouching and shambling over to Noah, "Braaaaains..." He dug his hands into the bowl and clumsily started to shove popcorn into his mouth by the handful. "Nyaarrghhh guhh nom," he made snorting, slurping noises as he ate, while Noah joined him as he dug his own hand into the bowl.
Popcorn fell around them everywhere, but they kept eating and groaning for braaaaains. Rex scarfed down hand after hand of food, drowning it in between gulps of soda flavored blood.
In the middle of their feast, Rex stopped for a second. He tilted his head over and put a finger to his ear. It was his communicator.
"Brains?" He asked. Noah couldn't stop letting out a laugh.
Rex listened for a moment, and then said, "Braaaaains."
It must have not been too urgent of a call. "Yeah?" Rex laughed, "Sorry, Doc. Can't hear you. I'm a zombie right now, you have to speak in braaains."
Noah stood there, completely amused by Rex. He wondered if Holiday would humor him on the other side.
"Really. Can't it wait? Kind of undead at the moment."
"...Come on, Doc," Rex shrugged smugly, "You know if you just want to see me, all you have to do is ask."
"...Yeah. Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll be there."
Noah raised an eyebrow, "What's up?"
Rex shrugged, "Doc says something about paperwork and The Committee something. I wasn't really paying attention. Just got the 'be here, Rex' part."
"Sounds like something worth bouncing out on a zombie marathon."
"Yeah, nothing more exciting than going over forms. Got a hunch that's what Six likes to do for a hobby."
"...I think can actually see that being true."
Rex smiled as he took the last drink of his soda and put it down, "See you next time?"
Noah nodded, "Yeah, next time."
They fist bumped and Rex walked out the door, "Later, Noah."
He waved him off, "Okay, see you, Rex."
When the door shut, Noah stopped for a second, realizing the sudden quiet left behind. That fun atmosphere was abruptly sobered by something as mundane as paperwork. It felt a little heavy how quickly the mood shifted, and Noah was disappointed how fast their fun had to end. He let out a sigh, and looked around.
Suddenly, he realized a heavier feeling that fell over him.
It was hard to notice in the dimness of the house, but it was there.
There was popcorn everywhere.
And he was the only one there to clean it up.
"Aw man."
Noah strolled in the early morning. It was cold, too cold to go to school in his opinion. Winter was finally here, even though it didn't look like it at all. Noah huffed, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he begrudgingly walked that familiar path to school.
It was just going to be another normal boring day like the last few. He could unfortunately feel it.
Thump.
Thump.
Or not.
The ground shook.
Thump.
Okay, not feeling normal anymore.
Thump.
Noah turned around. A shadow started to loom in the distance. Car alarms started to go off. The shadow was slowly getting closer and Noah just knew in the pit of his stomach that what was making that shadow was coming for him.
A loud, roaring screech echoed over as that squirrel EVO reared its head up to yell. The formations of countless smaller EVOs writhed as it composed its body.
It was huge.
It stopped, sniffed the air, and looked straight at Noah. He stared back.
"...Yeah," he muttered to himself, "Guess I'm gonna run now."
He took off.
While he ran, he dug his phone out of his pockets and hit Rex on his speed dial. Behind him, quickening crashes started to follow.
On the other line, Rex yawned, "Hey. 'Sup, Noah..."
"Hey! Bet you'll never guess who wants to say hi!" Noah kept running. The EVO was getting closer.
"Wait... El Terriblè? Wow, that's...weird."
"Uh, yeah. Weirdness aside, how about getting over here, Rex?" Noah looked behind him to see that the squirrel EVO was even closer, and even bigger than he first thought, "Remember when Holiday said they might be up to something big? Pretty sure this is it!"
"Right, got you, Noah! Be there soon, you know the drill!"
Right. Noah shoved his phone back into his pocket and made a sharp turn.
The drill. Lure it away from as heavily populated areas as possible, and take it down with Providence.
Noah kept running, the thudding crashes kept growing louder. From the sides of him, he heard the small, annoying squeaks of unassimilated squirrels coming for him. As he ran, he pulled out a textbook from his backpack and armed himself with it. A small one flew out from the side as he turned another corner, WHAM, it went down.
"Yeah!" He yelled as he sprinted.
Noah led the EVO through to a developing suburb. Houses were still being constructed amongst the cleared brush and lots, and the towering form of the EVO covered the area in its shadow. An armored van screeched as it turned, stopping as a few agents fanned out.
"Here, Noah," one of them yelled over and tossed him a standard issue gun. Noah shoved his book back into his bag behind him and started firing.
The thing shrieked, a thousand little mouths let out a scream over its body, and started charging over at Noah and the group. It whipped around, using its tail to attack. Noah dodged it easily, it was a trick that he knew too well. A few other agents weren't so lucky, and found themselves pressed and flattened against trees and unfinished walls.
Finally, whoosh, overhead, Rex flew over and charged a flying smack hand into the EVO's face. Rex rebounded and landed.
"What held you up, Rex? Got stuck in air-traffic?" Noah yelled over as he aimed his shots.
"Nah, White Knight just decided to give me a pep talk before I left!" Rex charged another smack hand, "You know the usual 'bring it down, Rex, what do we pay you for anyway' deal!"
Noah locked in his next full cartridge and kept shooting, being careful not to hit Rex, "You get paid?"
Smaller EVOs started to swarm the area. Another larger Providence carrier stopped and even more agents started pouring in. The singular EVOs started to combine, making another larger composite one. Six swooped in and promptly cut it in half.
"All right, Six!" Rex yelled out.
"Take out the big one, Rex," Six called out and promptly turned himself onto crowd control on the other, smaller EVOS. He was making sure they wouldn't have to deal with twice as much trouble as they had to already.
"Already on it!"
The EVO flailed as Rex continued to pummel it, struggling as he drove his fists and swords through it, cutting it down to size. But, they kept reforming as quickly as Rex could tear it up. The EVO reared its head up again, and charged into the group of agents shooting at it.
Noah aimed a shot at its eye, and got it. It screeched again, and opened its mouth to get at him. Noah turned away to run, but it was too late, it had him by his backpack.
"Noah!" Rex shouted to him. The EVO threw its head up in the air, clamping onto Noah.
He struggled, unable to get himself free. Its teeth grabbed too much into Noah's backpack, becoming a restraint on him. Noah could feel the moist, rancid breath of the EVO flare up from behind him. It was just gross.
"Noah! Heads up!" Rex flew by and threw Noah a miniature missile launcher, which he aimed behind him and fired.
Snap! Noah heard his backpack straps give way when the EVO flailed back at the missile in its face. He fell, but felt Rex suddenly catch him. When he looked down, he didn't realize he was up as high as he actually was.
They landed. "Thanks, Rex," He breathed, and then looked up at the EVO. His backpack was still in its mouth.
"Wait! Wait! My essay!" Noah yelled. The EVO threw its head up, his backpack tossed up high, and landed into its mouth. It chewed for a moment, and spit out a confetti of paper.
"Wow," Noah stared in disbelief, "An EVO ate my homework. Dunno if my teacher's heard that one yet."
"Hey, better it gets a textbook paper salad than a Noah burger, right?" Rex grinned.
"Noah, Rex," Six flew in on his hover board, "This is the one that has to be taken down completely. Holiday says all the EVO activity is gathering here. If this one isn't taken down, we may never get another chance to take care of this once and for all."
"All right," Rex formed up his smack hands again, "So this time, we're finally going to end it!"
Noah nodded as Rex ran off to one side, and he went off to the other. This EVO was huge, but it was just a bigger version of the smaller ones they fought before. Now that they were both here and on the same page, they started their routine.
It was kind of like a choreographed fight whenever they came across this EVO. Rex distracted it up high, while Noah shot at it with large ammo down low. The EVO would turn to look down, and then Rex would deliver a huge tearing punch through its head. It'd reel back, and Noah would shoot at its tail, severing its most useful weapon as it stretched to whip at Rex.
It was predictable for the most part, but after Noah took care of its tail, it started to move around on its own. It was big enough now to still be semi-autonomous. Noah focused on it, although unaware of the other end starting to snake around to attack him.
On the opposite side of the fight, Rex looked over and grabbed a larger launcher off the side of another staff carrier. Noah turned around in time to spot the other end of the tail arching up to engulf him. His weapon clicked uselessly, and he panicked for a second until he saw the larger launcher sailing at him. He caught it, although with little ease from the weight, aimed, and jumped back from the resulting explosion.
That did it. Noah looked over at Rex grappling with the crumbling body of the towering EVO. Around him, agents still continued to fire, but suddenly a swarming mass of more EVOs started to coat the ground. They crawled over agents and started to pile on, trying to suffocate them as they made their way to their main boss in the middle.
Six continued to take down what he could, but the EVOs kept coming, there wasn't any stopping them at all.
The tail reformed, larger than before with a mouth of its own this time. Rex kept hitting the head, unaware of a problem that suddenly resurfaced.
The EVO ducked, and for a moment, Rex was confused. The tail whipped up, its teeth and mouth screaming at him. Before it crunched down, an explosion blasted and stifled it off. Rex looked down as Noah gave him a thumbs up.
Rex nodded and punched it again, although he was starting to get tired. Hitting it like this normally worked, although by this time it'd have given up and ran away in whatever pieces that could still run.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Noah running on the ground. He caught a glimpse of a circle of Providence agents below him, aiming their larger ammo weaponry at the head. Noah signaled him away.
Rex flew out of range towards the ground, and a rush of bursts boomed behind him. He landed and looked back up. The cloud cleared and revealed the EVO half gone, but still functioning without its head. It thrashed around, and Providence agents scattered.
"Squirrelzilla just doesn't want to die!" Noah grabbed another launcher.
"Yeah, must've taken a page out of death bunny's AND Van Kleiss's book!"
Around them, the EVO swarm finally thinned on the ground. The remaining swelled up, reforming what had been blown away. As the rest started to stack into the holes, Rex turned to the side and activated his communicator. He had an idea.
"Doc? Can you hear me?"
The other side beeped, and he could hear Holiday's voice over the noise around him, "Yes, Rex?"
"You know how whenever I cure this thing, I cure more of it every time? You think I might be able to cure all of it this time?"
There'd be squirrels everywhere, but it was a way of taking it down.
He could hear her pause for a moment, possibly looking over data files on it, "I-well, it looks possible this time with how much the EVOs are melding together but-"
"All right, I'm gonna try it!"
Rex flew back up again and yelled over, "Noah! I'm gonna try something! Make sure it won't see me!"
Noah nodded, "Right!" He went over and crouched in front of the EVO, getting ready to cause a distraction as Rex flew behind it.
"Wait, Rex. There's a 50-50 chance you can't cure it this time. You'll be leaving yourself open to attack if you try it and it doesn't work."
Rex circled around its head, trying to get it confused before Noah could fire, "It's cool, Doc. I got Six and Noah covering me, this might be the only way to finally finish this!"
He suddenly jetted upwards. Boom. The EVO thrashed again, and Rex found his opportunity.
He landed on its back and pressed his hand against it. He could feel it, he could see it, his nanites were working on it. There was that familiar feeling as he felt the nanites absorb into him, and it was working bit by bit.
Below him, Noah spotted something. He picked up the launcher again and found it without ammo. He looked up at Rex.
Yeah, his plan was working. He could hear that soft chirping in his head as he absorbed. Soon, they'd never have to worry about this stupid squirrel thing again.
"Rex!" He heard Noah shout. He turned his head and saw a tail swinging towards him. No! So close! So close! So close! He tried to keep a hand on it without pulling away and then-
Black.
Quiet.
...Beep. ...Beep.
It was foggy and dark.
...Beep. ...Beep.
He felt dizzy. What happened? Where was he?
...Beep. ...Beep.
And what was that annoying beeping sound?
Rex opened his eyes slowly. Light flooded in and he squinted.
"Nnnrrrgghh," he grumbled.
He tilted his head over and saw Dr. Holiday overseeing several monitors and writing something down on her clipboard.
"Didn't know heaven looked like the Providence infirmary. At least the angels are still beautiful."
Holiday looked over at him and gave him a wry smile, "Nice to see you too, Rex."
She turned and said out to the door, "He's awake now."
Noah walked in, along with Six. Rex grinned.
"Hey Noah, nice face."
Noah sported a healthy black eye and several cuts. A large piece of gauze was attached on his forehead as well as several smaller bandages here and there. One of his arms were wrapped up and there were small bruises on his neck and jaw. He was banged up pretty well.
Noah smirked, "Thanks, but I'm not nearly as handsome as you, Rex."
He pulled out his cell phone, and pushed a few buttons. He showed Rex a snapshot of him while he was passed out. He had not one, but two black eyes, cuts everywhere, and his cheeks were swollen. Oh yeah, he was also drooling.
"...I have to agree, Noah," Rex laughed as he weakly grasped Noah's phone for a closer look, "Aw, is that really me?"
He touched his own face and accidentally grazed a cut, "Ow!"
Holiday and Noah chuckled as Noah took back his phone. Rex turned to the three of them, "So. Since I'm not dead, that means we won, right?"
Noah made an unsure face, "Well, kind of. Not really."
He shrugged, "After you got beat by that squirrel, Six called some back-up and gassed it. They ended up containing it."
"Yeah?" Rex raised an eyebrow, "Where is it now?"
"It's being transferred over to the EVO hold and study center over in Basic," Six interjected, "Dr. Holiday is currently working on something that'll separate them and allow them to regroup for training cadets."
"Oh," Rex paused, "That's cool."
"Yes," Holiday nodded, "It'll be good for our agents to understand combat with this new type of EVO. I'm sure it won't be the last time we'll encounter it."
Dr. Holiday flipped through her clipboard and looked at Rex and Noah, "Well, I need to get going. Rex, do you need anything?"
He thought for a moment, "How about some food? Kinda hungry from being beat up, Doc."
She smiled, "Sure, I'll have someone send something over." She turned over to Noah, "You all right too, Noah?"
He smiled back, "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for patching me up."
"No problem." Holiday nodded, and walked out. Six trailed slightly behind her and lightly settled a hand on her shoulder. The door shut behind them.
Rex and Noah stared at the closed door for a second. They exchanged glances. Did Holiday know that- Did Six just-
No.
No, no, no. They were not going to touch that.
Rex turned to Noah, "So. I get why I'm all busted up, but what's up with you?"
Noah shrugged, "After you got knocked out, the EVO went all crazy and I got a face full of fur." Noah laughed, "I'd be almost as good-looking as you if Six didn't get my back while I was fishing you out of all the squirrel ownage."
Rex cracked a smile, "Heh, well, only the hero should get all the cool scars, anyway."
"Yeah, cool scars," Noah smirked as he took his phone out again to snap another picture of Rex, "Holiday says you've got a bunch of broken stuff, but because of your nanites you'll be fine soon enough."
"Of course," Rex nodded smugly, "Hey, dunno where my phone is, but send those pictures to me later, okay? I definitely wanna remember the day we took down Mega Squirrelzilla."
"Sure," Noah nodded, looking over the last few pictures in his phone, specifically the one with Rex passed out in his hospital bed, "Heh, think I'll make this your new caller ID picture. This is way more awesome than the one of you after you threw up those blueberry pancakes."
"That awesome, huh. Never thought I'd be able top that."
Rex laughed, and so did Noah. Even after battling for the city and possibly losing their lives, they still could laugh so easily. Even after being banged up and broken here and there, it was still so easy to smile. They talked and joked for a while, until it was time for Noah to go.
After receiving a note from Dr. Holiday to excuse him from school that day (as well as a request to replace his textbooks and an extension on his essay), Noah was transported home in the evening.
Meanwhile, Rex stared up at the ceiling in his infirmary bed, quietly listening to the beeps from the walls. He tried not to think how annoying it was.
The day was finally over, the final boss of the evil empire of Squirreldom was defeated, and he still got away with enough wit to gloat with. Yeah, despite his injuries, he was feeling pretty good.
Beside him lay a stack of empty pudding cups and half-read comics. It was always a drag whenever he was sentenced to sit around and do nothing, but as long as he had something to entertain him, it wasn't so bad. Rex flipped on the television and the news played with reports of that particular EVO showdown. He smiled, even though he wasn't always shown in a favorable light on TV, he liked seeing himself kick butt.
The camera was far off and distant, and when it zoomed in, it was grainy. Although, he could see himself flying around and delivering a punch here and there completely crystal clear. The shot wavered a little when the EVO moved, but soon steadied.
It was pretty exciting watching himself fight. Even though he lived through it and knew what happened, it was still kind of thrilling. He watched as he threw another punch, and then the EVO threw its head down. He laughed at the stupid expression on his face as that horrific mouthy EVO tail flew up at him... Before it exploded. The camera zoomed out a little to show the other agents shooting their own ammo, but Noah stuck out in that quick shot as he held the large launcher over his shoulder.
Rex smiled and shook his head. Noah was pretty handy with that launcher. He was pretty handy with most any weapon that he could wield, from tasers to forklifts to launchers. He had this awesome adaptability that made him the perfect wingman for Rex. He could anticipate his moves, roll with the punches, not to mention he was way more fun to fight with than Six. Not that Six wasn't good to fight with (they didn't call him the sixth deadliest man for nothing), but at least whenever Noah was funny it wasn't from thinly veiled jokes at Rex's expense. Usually. Sometimes. Well, at least half the time, maybe.
He caught another glimpse of Noah down on the ground of the battle, aiming with the rest of the agents for that huge blow.
...Yeah, Rex thought, that was pretty awesome. Noah was pretty awesome.
Even though they had their problems before, those bumps and bruises from that time ago, those wounds had healed over. And today, to be honest, he really couldn't ask for a better friend than Noah. Somehow he made his life seem easier, even when he had caused some troubles himself.
Rex chuckled at the thought. He turned off the TV when the action cut away to a reporter. He reached over to one of his new comics and started reading.
Noah crouched over his desk, looking over his newly printed copy of his essay. Even though he'd be able to get an extension, he wouldn't need it. Nonetheless, he knew he could stand to edit his paper a little more for good measure.
He sighed and tapped his pencil on his desk. Winter break seemed like years away.
That was probably enough. He didn't want to think about homework any more. Today had already been crazy, and he actually deserved to just sit back and relax. He and Rex took down that insane squirrel EVO that had been stalking them for months, and he had the injuries to show for it.
Noah stood up and trudged over to his bed. He fell with a whump, and turned around to stare at the ceiling.
He sighed. Who knew his life would turn out like this? When he was little, he thought here and there of becoming a soldier, of fighting for a cause, but he never knew it'd end up like this.
This... Was way, way cooler.
Vicious EVO fights, handling weaponry he could have only imagined in his wildest dreams...It was all too awesome. On top of all that, he fought alongside his best friend. what more could he ask for? Well, maybe a hot girlfriend, but with everything in his life, it was kind of out of the question.
Besides, it'd too much to juggle if he could anyway, he thought. He'd probably have to end up choosing between fighting with Rex or hanging out and being normal with her in some huge stupid dramatic showdown. He knew he'd end up ultimately siding with Rex anyway. Girls could come and go in his life, but, really, how often would he find someone like his friend?
Noah yawned a little, he was starting to feel the day catch up with him in fatigue.
Today, when they were fighting that EVO, well, whenever they were fighting an EVO and Rex got hospitalized, Noah didn't deny he was worried. It's natural to worry about a friend's wellbeing when they're hurt, even for someone as nearly indestructible as Rex. He had that trust in Rex, though. He trusted he knew he was doing (most of the time), and trusted he wouldn't end up getting himself killed somehow, even in the most dangerous of situations.
Noah looked over to the side and saw his basketball lying in the corner of his room. He reached for it, and tossed it as he laid back.
In the most dangerous of situations, Noah recalled, Rex found a way to laugh. He found a way to make some stupid remark, some hilarious insult, or some weird observation. It was him, how he functioned, and who he was.
Noah couldn't help but smile at the thought and past recollections of it.
As if life wasn't difficult enough already, Rex often just aggravated everything. It could be the most mundane thing, just something that happened every day, and he'd shake it up without a second thought or even a first realization of what he was doing.
Rex made Noah's life interesting, simply put. He was interesting. He'd have probably made life just as interesting for Noah even if he was as normal as he was. There was something at the very core of him that was constant and exhilarating, and that could only be described as being Rex.
Everything about him, him, Rex- not Rex the EVO, the Providence Agent/Superweapon, but Rex, as Rex, was completely and wholly just...Just so him.
There was just absolutely no other way to describe it. It was him, who Rex was, that made Noah's life as absolutely, hilariously, dangerously, and turbulently amazing as it was.
Noah clutched his basketball, and settled it to the side. He stared at the ceiling again.
...Rex.
He stretched out over his covers and settled a hand behind his head. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and flipped to the pictures he took from today. He suddenly remembered he still hand to send them to Rex.
Noah pulled up the most recent picture. It was of him and Rex side-by-side, proudly showing off their injuries with a grin and thumbs up. He glanced over at the clock. It didn't seem too late, but maybe he would be sleeping by now. Noah sent off the picture. If Rex's phone beeped while he was asleep, he probably wouldn't hear it anyway.
There were only three pictures, that one he just sent, the one of Rex talking and awake, and the one he took when Rex was newly bandaged and still unconscious. He sent the other two away as well, and tapped the options and made that last one Rex's caller ID picture, just as he said.
He laughed at Rex's face. Even at his worst and passed out, Rex was hilarious.
Noah smiled and eyed that picture. There was something about Rex, something indescribable Noah couldn't grasp about him and enjoyed so much. Everything about him fit in so well into his life, even the worst parts of their time together. He had become a constant now, a locked asset in his life that was a necessity to have.
He became someone that Noah needed to have in his life somehow, even if just to know he had him somewhere. Everything that came with Rex just seemed so oddly right.
Conversely, there was something in him that Noah felt drew him to Rex.
It was so easy to lose the day with him. Video games, zombie flicks, homework even, easily consumed the hours without their knowing. It was just- It was just so easy.
Noah focused on the picture in his screen. He focused on Rex, all bloodied up and bruised. He focused on the smile he couldn't stop when he looked at that shot, and he just thought.
Rex.
He liked being around him, he liked fighting with him, he liked competing with him...
Flaws, annoyances, arrogance and all, he liked everything about him.
He liked him.
The thought sunk in, and something shifted.
Noah's eyes widened. Wait, did he just think what he thought he thought?
He stopped himself for a second.
No, wait. That's not how he meant it. That was NOT how he meant it! Right? No, nah, of course not. Rex was- Rex was his friend. And... And that's all.
Yeah.
That was all!
Noah left it for a moment, and switched his thinking off. It was a ridiculous thought. It just wasn't possible.
How could he like Rex like that anyway? Why did he even think of that?
He thought again, but that question rushed up and burst. Suddenly, his denial shattered.
Memories started to fly in and crash into one another. He bolted up in his bed as ideas started to collide and lock together. It gave him chills as he started to remember times, occasions, instances that he had found himself being pulled to Rex.
Working together so closely, those quick glances, being in contact so often... Leaning on him without even thinking...
That restraint- that restraint as well.
Noah groaned, suddenly realizing where it had come from, now.
It was stupid. His subconscious knew it long before he did. It panicked at the idea, but instead of pushing him away from Rex, it just ended up as an excuse to pull him closer.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
How could he have not realized it until now? How long had he felt this way? Was it for weeks, months? Even longer?
How could it have slipped so easily through his thoughts?
How could this realization feel so right?
Around him, the room was quiet and calm, but all he could really hear was the loud scraping and grinding of the chaos going on in his head. It was a wrench into his entire system now, and all he could do was just stop and let it sink in.
He didn't want it to be true, but he knew it was.
It just made so much sense.
Rex ravaged Noah's thoughts. He consumed them entirely and tossed them everywhere, wreaking havoc on him without knowing it in the slightest. Memories, snippets and bits of evidence for this- this feeling whipped around his head. Then, just as quickly as it had started up, it all soon settled in a disarray.
Noah oddly felt alone in his head now, like he was left to pick up the pieces of that revelation. The why of it all wanted an answer in his head, but he couldn't give it. All he could do was find a way to deal with it.
He liked Rex. The realization was settled, but it grew stronger.
He pressed his face into his palm.
"Aw man."