"Whoever these people are, they sure seem desperate." Ronin remarked, watching the four of them file into the studio with their instruments slung around their backs.
"Oh yeah? Say, who are you four huh? What brings you here?" the manager swiveled back and flicked the 'On Air' sign on. Ronin laid back, mindlessly turning left and right in his own chair. This wouldn't be the first time a hodunk band from nowhere wandered in, ever since the radio announcement giving everyone a 'free try to fame', numerous ones had walked in. Numerous bad ones that is, his hopes for this one wasn't very high.
"Well we heard your radio advertisement. Originally we went to producers but after being turned down a few times things are lookin' a little grim. But ahh, who knows what'll happen you know?" the lead singer laughed boisterously, his gold pendant chiming against the neck of his guitar as he tuned it.
"So you've walked around to these guys houses and started strumming is what you're saying? What was more effort in, finding their houses or finding a time to catch them in their bathrobes?" Ronin snarkily asked, gaining a few laughs from the band members. At least they were in good spirits.
"Hey Goldstar these radio heads dun gone hate us!" The drums were slammed on in a beginning solo before the tempo was set for the other instruments to join in. Ronin and his higher up flinched from the unexpected start, but as the song went on they couldn't help but tap a foot or two. Ronin found himself double checking to make sure that the 'On Air' sign was lit as well as having the phone disconnected- how could any producer put these guys down? They danced and went all out, it was as if music was their playground inviting everyone to join in and swing.
"What's your group name huh? And more importantly, what's your name?" Ronin asked a little too closely to the microphone.
"Im Dareth, Ace is on the keys, Randal on the drums, and Jason on the bass. We're Brown Suede Shoes, thanks for having us on here."
Ronin groaned and rolled over in his cot, it had been a long time since he had a memory dream, but at least it wasn't anything bad this time around. At least he was in his own bed, the weird lab beds in Borg Tower always made him a little uneasy.
"Good morning Ronin." The thief jumped, eyes focusing on the yellow lights and face that smiled back at him.
"JESuS- oh.. It's just you. What do you want?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes. Huh, still have to get used to the metal.
Breakfast is ready when you are~!" He chimed before skipping off.
"Breakfast..? uhg, what time is it.. who's cooking?" Ronin groaned, pulling himself from bed and realizing that he was still in his suit. Maybe a change of clothing would be good today, he did have to do laundry and try to get some of the blood splatter out of it...
"Mmnnn, oh come on Dareth its been close to ten minutes he's not coming up." Kai shifted on his feet, everything laid out on the table smelt like heaven to him especially at this hour.
The ghost slapped Kai's reaching hand away again with a wooden spoon, "Hey, I told you, Ronin gets first dibs. besides its only been about three."
"How did you even cook all of this in a timely manner? Wouldn't everything just go through you?" Nya chimed in, she too was hovering around though not being outward about it.
"Got all the dishes washed and dried, where do I put them?" Lloyd poked his head in, bandana around his neck and yellow rubber gloves to acquaint it.
"Allow me," Echo emerged from the stairwell to help his friend.
"Well, I had a little help. turns out I can't touch water without feeling like I stuck my hand into lava." Dareth folded his arms, a little put off by the fact.
"Can't touch water huh? I'll keep that in mind the next time I go out garden shopping." Ronin leaned against the doorway, Collared shirt hung loose with khakis and slacks, his hair up in a low ponytail. "Breakfast huh? Well go on everyone grab a plate-"
"No nonono, Ronin this is yours, you get first pick." Dareth waved his hands, to which Kai groaned and put the plate back.
"Well yeah but if you're expecting me to eat this on my own you have another thing coming."
Breakfast was passed around to everyone while Echo let the radio play from his speakers. Ronin sat from the far side, overseeing and chuckling to himself when Nya stopped her sibling from getting thirds.
"Hey.. I'm sorry for haunting you for so long, I had no idea it wasn't you, haha."
"Yeah, I knew that."
"Then... why didn't you tell me?"
"I DID tell you! You didn't listen to me! I told you so many times!" he pointed his for accusingly at him, "Well whatever, at least you can leave now without being bitter about everything."
"Ahh, hahah, yeah, about that." Ronin slowly looked up at him, squinting. "Uh, Yeah I'm cursed to an object in here and I can't leave without it, sorry." Dareth shrugged, smiling nervously. "Hey, how about some tunes huh? ahh, someone tell Echo to play station 14.104, that ones still around right?" Ronin just about choked.
"14.104? Never heard that station, is it new?" Nya made her way over to the droid, turning the dial and lining the needle.
"ts not new, its old-" the music that started playing was not what he remembered at all, "but it's not what it's used to be..."
"That's because there was a change of owners," Ronin sighed, "New owner, new rules, new traditions."
"Aw what? What happened to the old one? do you know him?"
"Guess he died." That caused a few pairs of eyebrows to raise. Feeling everyone's eyes he continued, "He couldn't juggle two jobs, but more importantly he was bought out, this guy named Justin bought him out." Ronin took another bite of grilled ham.
"Aw man, I knew a guy named Justin, I hated him. think he's the reason why I struggled so much as an artist, always one step ahead of me. Physically went to the Record-peoples houses and played but was shut out even there." the thief looked up, realization washing over him. "Was the first place I went to where I wasn't cut off- that station, had this thing going on and I was even Invited back to play again with my band. Ohh I miss those days..."
"B-brown Suede Shoes?"
Dareth smiled, "Hey, someone remembers! Well of course you know, you're big into that stuff-"
"Yeah, one of my favorite bands. Loved it when they'd stop by and play a song while on tour." Ronins smile was broad, any sort of annoyance that was present in his eyes before washed away.
"M-" he took a double take, "Mister Radio Man?"
-o-o-
Maybe he shouldn't have pushed Cole away like that. Even after he brought the good news at school it still didn't change the fact that Zane was still stuck in the hard clutch of Borg Tower. What horrible atrocities could be going on, the Synth was probably tortured to high hell. Or even worse, completely dismantled reassembled into a police officer with a laser pistol under Borg's control. He turned over in his bed before getting up. He had to do something, doing nothing just made everything worse. Maybe he'd go to borg tower personally, bring Cole and Pixal along and sneak through the vents. He'd have to bring flour just in case there were lasers, and would need to disable the cameras from the mainframe. Pixal knew the place better than him, he could ask her for mapping and sneaking, what works when and formulate a plan. Jay made his way to the door, swinging it open and- Zane had held up his fist ready to knock but let it down with a chuckle.
"Hey Little Blue, beat me to the knocking I see." The droid pulled jay by the arm into a hug, squeezing him and smelling his ginger curls. There was no way, this had to be a dream. Zane never talked, this had to have been a dream.
"Zane…?"
"Yes?" his calm soothing voice rung through Jay, and if he didn't have bones he swore he would melt. He wrapped his arms around, squeezing tightly as he buried his eyes into the droid's 's all he needed now was to hold him, shivering and sobbing, fingers running gently up and down the back of his sweater.
"I thought I'd never see you," he looked up, "I thought you were d-decommissioned, I thought- I though- I was so scared… what happened..? How did you escape?"
Zane's face went flat, "I walked here."
"Wh-" that didn't make sense, "What do you mean? You didn't sneak out there wasn't lasers and saws and sharp pointy things trying to kill you?"
"No. Borg fixed my voice and my eyes and I left. I told him that someone was waiting for me, and he let me leave. Thought I meant more than what I said, he seemed to understand." He let go and rested a hand on Jays shoulder, "Being away gave me time to think about what I am about to do."
"What you are-" the breath caught in his throat as metal plating connected against his cheek, a light 'click' noise released before Zane pulled back.
"Jay, When I first saw you when you woke me up, I knew you were the one. I stared, afraid to move you in your angelic sleep," his voice became whimsically accented, "Then you opened your eyes, and in the rain of feathers it was as if the stars aligned… Then I learned your name… and I was blessed from above! Jay Walker, the most perfect person for me, I hope I am the most perfect being for you- I-I want to be." He was.. Speechless, staring into the icy blue eyes if his taller counterpart… whose face was gradually being lit up more and more blue. Zane covered his eyes, "Actually.. I thought you were dead.. I was going to poke your face." Jay snorted, covering his mouth before laughing, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh my gosh Zane.. you're so.. Perfect. Come here!" Jay jumped into his arms, kissing
the bridge of his nose and laughing. Zane slid the shades on his eyes, beaming as he began to run. Oh how he wished he had skin… then he'd have the lips to kiss him right back.