This took me a while to post, sorry, had a busy week. But it's here now. The chapters will be a wee bit shorter if I can help it from here on out, which will make it an easier read. Remember, comments and reviews are realllyyyyy (hint hint) appreciated. Thanks!

The Fragile

Chapter 4: The Changing of Times

Acmetropolis was cursed with such a brooding atmosphere. By some strange cosmic misfortune, the city planet was never blessed with the delicacy of direct sunlight. Thus, the planet was transfixed in a state of everlasting twilight. Such a gloomy atmosphere did effect the general mood of the public, but only somewhat. For even the darkest depths of the universe could not prevent light from shedding upon the glory of personal triumphs. And tonight, Rev was glowing brighter than a thousand suns.

Rev reluctantly ended his evening with Shannon at the ghostly hour of 2 am, in which made his was back to Headquarters with an extra spring in his step. Unsurprisingly, he found the main living space to be deserted. Still, he was slightly disappointed at this sight – he had to tell someone about his night. But if Father Tim did not allow for it, he supposed he would wait until morning.

That is, until he heard a clatter emanating from the laboratory.

"Tech!" Rev chirped, and sprinted over to Tech's lab in a time that could have very well been calculated in negative nanoseconds.

Tech usually would have taken notice to Rev's (rather common) entrances, if nothing else, for the sudden gust of wind generated by his speed. However, Tech was particularly exhausted at this time, monotonously tweaking this and wiring that in a zombie like state. It was quite obvious that Tech had been at… whatever he was doing… for several hours. Rev was quick to notice.

"Jeez Tech I think you've done enough just put that wrench down and go to bed but not before you hear about my night!"

Tech, unaware of Rev's presence, recoiled with a strange 'Yipe!", jumping in the air and dropping any tool he had in his hand.

"Ohmygosh Tech sorry I didn't want to scare you like-"

"Rev!" Tech interrupted, still recovering from the surprise, "how many times have I told you to-"

"Enter quietly and calmly I know sorry I forgot because tonight was amazing!"

Rev bounced from left foot to right foot, holding his hands together anxiously, glaring at Tech with wide and imploring eyes. Yes, he was simply begging Tech to ask how it all went. Tech may have never been the best at deciphering looks, not exactly being a "people" person, but this look was unmistakable.

Tech sighed. "So it went well?"

"Yeah it did everything was perfect I was able to suck in all my nervousness and ask without a trace of fear and I – eh heh heh."

Tech raised an eyebrow.

"OK so yeah I was a disaster but she caught on to my charade and kind of agreed to going out before I even asked her which when you think about it is kind of better right because I can make a complete ass out of myself and she still likes me oh man this is great and she is great!"

Although Rev's long-winded run-on sentences would have been perplexing to many, Tech was among the select few who could successfully decipher almost anything Rev said.

"Well, that's great!" Tech exclaimed, "I told you it'd be no problem."

"Well it wasn't no problem but in the end there weren't any problems! Oh man this is great imagine how much more time I can spend with her now instead of being cooped up in this place all the time."

"Oh," Tech said, his cheerful demeanor diminishing, "yeah."

"What?"

"No, no, that's great. So, ahem, got a date planned or something?"

"Yeah we're probably going to go out this Saturday we're not sure where but we always figure it out. You know Tech it really really really wouldn't be the worst thing for you to try to get in touch with the whole dating scene yourself."

Tech sigh frustratingly. "Rev, please, not again –"

"Well I'm sorry but when I came in here you were a total zombie I mean you didn't even hear me come in because you were so zonked! I really don't think being cooped up in this lab is the best thing for you."

"Look, Rev. I've tried it before, as you very well know, and it simply didn't work at all. It took me months to get over what happened. I'm not going through that again."

"Oh so now you're scared because of one little super villainess?"

"Yes, Rev! I am. It's just not worth the effort for me. It's much more productive overall if I just settle down and work to my strengths, which are right here in this lab. Relationships are nothing but a waste of time for me."

"Oh so I'm just wasting my time in this relationship is that how you see it?"

"You're jumping to rash conclusions. It's a waste of time for me. It may not be for you. You have to realize that some of us just aren't meant to socialize."

"Well maybe some of us just thought everyone had the capability of changing. I'm sorry for thinking that. I'm going to bed."

With that final note, Rev left the room significantly more slowly than he had entered it, the blazing light of his mood now dimmed. Tech merely sighed, looked back at the machinery he was previously working with, and turned away. He was in no mood to work now.

He couldn't lie to himself – he was not completely happy with Rev's new relationship. For he was right, in a way – working endlessly in a solitary lab could be very dreary. Rev was the only member of the team who ever stepped in to help him, or even visit him. And with him gone, more, that would, by the transitive property, mean fewer visits. Oh well, his work would be drearier now, is all. He could probably handle that.

Tech began to ponder over his less-than-ceremonious first time of meeting Rev. It had been before the meteor struck, back when he attended the Acme Institute. Those were dark times. All at once, the scene played back in his head, as if on a projector screen replaying the fragments of his memories.