12.
Ren was the last person to wake up the following day. And when he did he found himself alone. His brow furrowed as she stared at the empty side of the bed for a moment. Back then he would be the first to rise after a night at a girl's place. That way he could get the hell out before whomever the female was woke up. Normally he was long gone by the time they noticed he was missing.
His eyes scanned the medium sized room. He found out a lot about a girl just by her room alone. And for the most part what he found out about whatever female he was screwing at the time wasn't worth talking about.
But Piper's room was different, unlike his own. Small glass bottles, which Ren assumed was perfume, sat atop her dresser arranged in a neat line. In the corner sat a small stack of books, some with titles he recognized.
Ren suddenly felt ashamed, his room (technically his entire house) was a tragic mess compared to hers. Some of his clothes made it into the hamper, whereas some stayed wherever he managed to take them off at. Empty glasses found new homes at his bedside, and had been there for so long some started to collect a not so thin film of dust.
He would have to do some serious cleaning before he ever allowed her to come over.
Ren decided it was best to eventually get up, making his way to the staircase he trotted quietly down in search of the blonde. Sunlight shown through the many windows while music played softly off in the distance. He found piper in the kitchen, motioning around the space as she made breakfast. Her golden tresses were pinned atop her head sloppily, her large sweater hung off her shoulders.
"Good morning," She smiled as she noticed him lingering in the entranceway.
"Morning," Ren grinned. "Why are you up so early?"
"I always get up early."
Ren couldn't say the same.
"What are you making?"
"Just throwing a few things together," Said Piper. "Rations are starting to run low."
"What do we do when that happens?" Asked Ren.
"Wait for them to bring more down from the mountain." Piper pointed out her kitchen window to the mountain range that surrounded the town. "There's apparently a lab where medical supplies come from and there's a whole wing dedicated to food storage. Personally I've never been, not many people here have, yet we have at the same time. Supposedly that's where the cryo pods are kept."
"What do you have to do to be able to get in there?"
Piper shrugged, "Be part of the medical team or police force. Camus has gone a few times, said it's weird in there."
"Define weird."
"He's never elaborated," Said Piper. "All I know is that he hated it. Said it was like something out of a Syfy movie."
Ren knew there was more to the town that met the eye. The hidden cameras and mics were proof of that. Maybe the puppet masters were up in the mountains, and maybe they could answer some questions for him.
Like why in the hell did they pick him?
XXX
Ren looked around his disheveled living room with a deep sigh. It would take him forever to clean up alone, and calling his friends was out of the question. He didn't want them to worry, or taking the law into their own hands. And so he got to work on fixing his little hovel to what he deemed was liveable. He found that nothing was stolen, not that he had a lot of valuables in the first place. Just broken glass from plates and glasses from the kitchen. A couple of vases he hated had met their end too. Ren was, though, disappointed to see the painting that hung over his fireplace go. It wasn't anything extravagant, just a simple sun setting over the ocean. But to him it reminded him of home. Of growing up along the coast where his mother could walk him out to the end of their backyard and the pure ocean water would greet them. Where the air was thick with salt.
It now lay in pieces on the floor.
Ren didn't know how much time had passed before he started to see progress. It wasn't until Masato showed up that he stopped in his tidying.
"What in the world happened here?" His friend asked as he glanced around.
Granted the place still looked a mess, Ren had to admit that it looked better than it had before Masato arrived.
"Redecorating."
"Redecorating?"
"Yes."
"Do you take me for a fool?"
"Sometimes… it this one of those times?"
Masato just started back at him incredulously.
"Look, the place was broken into. Most likely those First Generation brats that have it out for Piper."
"What?" The other coughed. "What's going on? What do they want with Piper?"
"Not sure yet. I'm stuck between wanting to breed with her or harvesting her lovely organs since rations are running low and I'm pretty sure cannibalism is literally around the corner."
"Have you been drinking?"
"Today? No, why?"
"Because you're not making any sense."
"Do I ever?"
"Are you going to be safe here? Did they take anything?"
Ren scanned the room once again, "I should be alright." He said. "If they wanted me dead, I'm sure they would've done so by now. And that goes for everyone. I've got a Mr. Brad Cash (interesting fellow once you meet him with oddly colored socks) coming out to fix the window and the locks on the door tomorrow."
Masato frowned noticeably, something he was doing a lot those days no thanks to Ren. "Take care of yourself, will you? I would be very upset if something happened to you."
"As would I." Ren agreed. He gave the latter his signature smirk, asking, "Care to help? This would go quicker if you did."
XXX
Ren watched as his students piled out of his classroom, some waving with their kind farewells, others conversing amongst themselves in their little groups no longer willing to give him anymore of their time. He was secretly jealous of the youth, how they didn't have a care in the world (especially their world) must be truly blissful. He thought for a moment, only a moment, that he would have some down time before his next class piled in.
"Good morning, Mr. Jinguji."
It was such a nice thought to have.
Ren glanced up to find Yamato and another student, one he didn't recognize from the band of misfits (meaning another person he wouldn't care for in other words), leaning casually against a row of desks.
"Morning, kids." There was an emphasis on kids, because that's what they were.
Annoying.
Overly privileged.
Kids.
"I heard what happened to your house, that's such a shame." Yamato said. "Things don't normally happen like that here."
"You mean unless rules are broken or someone's toes gets stepped on." Ren pointed out. "Such an interesting form of hierarchy."
"You see, the rules are set in place for a reason. We follow them all, thus we live happily."
"I've been meaning to ask about you lot. What makes you all so special? Because it seems like you can break the so called law whenever you want, push people around, and a whole bunch of other random crap and people are either too afraid to confront you or the police turns a blind eye."
"We are the promised few," The youth boasted. "We are who will ensure that we humans have a fighting chance at survival. We are strong, we are healthy. We are what we need to make sure that we do not die out. What is your purpose, Ren Jinguji? The town drunk?"
"It's more along the lines of impromptu music teacher with emotional baggage, amateur town drunk, and partner to Piper Smith."
His lips curved into a self satisfied smirk as the last statement visibly struck a nerve with the boy.
Check mate.
"How is Piper, by the way?" Yamato asked smoothly.
"She's fine," Replied Ren dryly.
"It was so nice of her to open up her home to you in your time of need."
"She's my girlfriend, after all. So I would assume she would."
"Just… don't let any harm come to her, will you? We've seen your… suggestive history, and, well, your current state is no better. Trouble has a way of finding you, Mr. Jinguji and it would upset a lot of people if innocent parties were harmed on your account."
Ren took what the youth said into consideration.
Well, not really. But it pleased him nonetheless to at least humor the boy and his entourage.
"I'm no navy seal but I'm pretty sure I can protect her. Thanks for your concern."
"See to it that you do. Because I can promise you, if anything happens to her you'll regret it."
Ah.
Was Ren ever this infatuated with someone he didn't have a chance with? He honestly couldn't recall. But he did know he didn't take too kindly to being threatened, even if he could handle his own.
"Listen boy," Ren had had enough of this. "You come for me, you better know what you're doing." He gestured towards the door. "You can show yourselves out."
A/N: If you made it this far, again… congrats. If you've noticed, I've posted half the story so far. I will post the other half once I get the time. Again, I encourage reviews and will be more than willing to answer any questions you have via PM. No hateful comments please, if you didn't enjoy what you've read so far I thank you for your time and wish you well. But DO NOT leave any negativity in my comments. If you haven't given the show a try, you should! Seasons 1 and 2 are on Hulu.
