5 You Got To Go
"You Got To Go (Acoustic) by Above and Beyond"
"Beck," Bodhi says, "You need to take better care of yourself,"
It's another evening out at Argon Square. We're both sitting on the benches outside the disc arenas taking a breather. We've been in Argon a couple of xilacycles, and we're still getting comfortable. Disc battles are our way of letting off some steam.
"You're one to talk," I shove his shoulder, "You're the one always picking fights with those two trouble makers," He laughs it off.
"Bartik and Hopper? They're pushovers. That's why I mess with them! When are you going to learn names?"
"I don't know when people stick around."
"Don't you mean when we stick around? And I think it's time to admit we've made it good at Able's garage," Bodhi takes another swig of energy and audibly sighs after he swallows.
"Okay, okay! I'll admit that this is the longest we've stayed in one place...and that it's pretty nice."
"Great! Now drink up!" The bottle of energy is passed over to me and I take a drink. I look out over the city lights, the calm deep blues radiating and dancing peacefully with the flow of traffic as a soft breeze cools us off.
"Beck," Bodhi's tone catches my attention, "I'm serious," he looks me dead in the eye, "We've been watching each other's backs since we were rezzed. Sometimes you scare me with how little you treat yourself. You're shy, I get that, not everyone can be like me," He flexes and grins brilliantly. I've always admired his ability to be bright during dark times.
"But we can stay here. Argon's new, young, healthy, like you and me!" He swings an arm around my shoulder and spreads his other hand to showcase the city next to us, "It's okay to kick it. Go out to the club, get a different kind of energy. And I do mean get some drinks and some new friends!"
"I like it here Beck," Bodhi grows serious again, "I'm going to stay. Permanently. Able's a good Program, this is a good town, you know that and so do I."
"You know I've always got your back."
"I've got yours," he squeezes my shoulder, and I wrap my arm over his shoulders to return the embrace.
"Partners," he holds his fist out.
"Partners," I bump it without hesitation.
"Hey! Bodhi! We made it!," A female voice calls out.
We let go of each other and see a young woman with wavy cyan tipped hair walking towards us. Behind her is a skinny Program with a very unflattering bowl cut.
"Zed, Mara! So glad you could join us!" Bodhi stands up with his arms wide open, "You know Beck," he aims one of his arms in my direction. I notice that his hand is motioning for me to stand.
"Hello," I greet while rising to my feet.
"Yeah, we've seen you around," Mara exclaims, clearly excited but keeping her distance from me.
"You don't talk much," Zed utters low.
"Like you're one to talk Zed, you can't help but keep playing with those bikes. How many times has Able caught you messing with the customer's light cycles?" the girl reprimands.
"...twelve," Bodhi and Mara burst out in laughter and I can't help but snicker.
Bodhi takes this opportunity to showboat… me.
"Now I'm glad I invited you two here. I've been wanting to show off Beck's talent for disc battles! He's been dying for an audience," he boasts.
"W-what?!" I yelp in surprise.
"You guys fight?" Zed asks in confusion.
"Only for a pretty girl," Bodhi winks at Mara as he drags me to the arena. Mara blushes ear to ear as Zed's mouth drops open.
The two of us enter the ring, it seals and our protective armor rezzes.
"Disc battle commencing in 3… 2… 1… Begin."
We circle each other before he launches a disc at me. I duck and move toward him only to realize he's charging me at full speed. I roll out of the way just in time and flip around to avoid another quick disc throw. This time I sling my disc from underhand, it misses him by centimeters and I prepare myself.
He leaps and tackles me. I roll with his momentum and kick him up, sending him flying into the wall. He lets out a loud breath and I know he's out of breath. I take the opportunity to retrieve my disc and wait for him to stand.
"Don't… go… easy on me!" Bodhi claims and stands with a fire in his eyes. He's pumped up, as usual when we get into it.
"Just giving our audience a show," I banter and smirk. He laughs and throws his disc at the bubble. Again he moves toward me, but at an odd pace. I can't focus on him and the direction of his disc so in the split second, I trust my instincts and launch my disc where his will go.
I turn back to see Bodhi making his way slowly to me, he hasn't charged like I anticipated he would. Instead, he's smirking. I turn back and see that his disc his heading straight for me. He must have put a spin on the disc so when it hit mine it would come toward me. He's enginuity is astounding at times. I sprint in the opposite direction toward Bodhi. His legs are spread wide and he's bracing himself to stop me.
At the last second, I drop into a slide and make it between his legs. He's not quick enough to catch me and has to catch his disc. I flip around and catch my own disc as it returns and tag him in the back, while he's turning around to tag me.
"Winner, Player 2: Beck," the Grid announces.
I hear Mara and Zed cheering.
"That was amazing!" Mara screams.
"Whooaahh!" Zed shouts.
The bubble enclosing us in the ring derezzes and the two of us step off the field.
"That was so cool! You two are awesome!" She grabs the two of us around the neck and pulls us into an excited hug. I can feel her body vibrating with excitement. She seems to remember herself and steps down, giving me a sheepish look.
"Sorry, Beck," she says as her index finger plays with a lock of her hair that's growing long on the side.
I beam at her, "It's alright."
"Yeah, we fought over our pretty girl, think the winner deserves a few victory pats and hugs," Bodhi encourages.
Mara seems to get the idea and nearly tackles me with another hug. I laugh and hold her in a spin before setting her down. I look over to Zed and hold my palm out. He smiles and returns my high five, which seems to excite Mara again and she pulls Zed and me into another fierce hug. Bodhi piles on as well. Zed and I are sandwiched between Bodhi and Mara and the four of us laugh.
"Beck?" Paige's eyes rapidly dart between me and my disc. My head and body feel light and hot. I rest my face against the chilly table and sigh in satisfaction.
"What happened?" I ask, voice exhausted.
"I-I don't know. You went still and your disc started playing these memories," she looked back at the disc only to find the diagnostic screen back.
"What was the memory?"
"You and Bodhi sparring and… a really intimate conversation, and then-"
"So you saw it too," I reply in respiration.
"Yes…" she answers tenderly.
"I-"
"We are arriving in Argon Station, please stand clear of the doors," the voice of the Grid announces.
There's a moment of silence between us.
"Can you move?" the medic hook asks.
"I'm about to fall asleep," I admit with a slur.
"I'm not carrying you," she chuckles.
"Please?" I whine, but lift my head and find it is a serious struggle. Paige must notice as she attaches my disc back to my dock and helps me up.
"Thanks," I utter while she half carries me off the train.
"Beck, we need to get you some energy. You were seriously low already, and whatever that episode was wiped you out," I can hear her concern and I can feel her head moving left and right as she tries to figure out which way to lead. My eyes are only open a slit and I'm letting her guide me, focusing the last of my energy on staying upright.
"Yeah… I have some condensed energy in my pocket."
"That's not what you need. Maybe after some rest, but that won't really help."
"But I use it on extended recon missions," I defend.
"Yeah, it's fine then," she grunts as she gets a firm grip on my waist.
I have enough sense to realize we've stopped moving, allowing me to snuggle up closer to her. I can tell the arm around her shoulder is weak but I do my best to firm what little grip I have. It takes a moment before we're moving again. I black out a few times. It's hard to tell what's going on besides the fact it feels like I'm moving at a snail's pace. In one of my moments of greater coherency, I realize there's a cloak covering most of my body and I feel warm and comfortable. As far as standing up and using someone as a bed goes.
"Sit," a voice says to me. I can't remember who I'm with, but I listen to the command. It's soft, and I trust them- her. Trust. I trust someone. A smile floats to my face as I'm laid on something hard and my bed leaves me.
I know I fall asleep. I have dreams of my best friend. I see that white streak in his hair and the red secondary circuit lines. Then there are other dreams of a woman with red circuit lines and beautiful amber eyes. Whenever I see her I feel a bursting warmth bloom within my chest. That energy is enough to wake me.
I'm able to look up and find I'm leaning against a table. I scan the area and find I'm deserted at the train station. My mind is still incredibly foggy but I recall the eyes. Amber eyes. Paige!
My heart quickens and I look around wildly in search of her, only succeeding in making myself slightly sick.
"Hey, hey, calm down. I'm still here," Paige's voice drifts over from behind me. Relief floods me, coincidentally, all my energy leaves. She catches my head before I smack it into the table, "Stay awake, I need you to drink this energy," she coaxes a bottle before me and I manage to swallow some of it down, realizing my mouth is dry.
The bottle is pulled from me and I don't feel any different, except her hands are still holding my head. It takes me a moment until I realize my head is leaning back against her stomach and she's gently stroking my hair.
"That feels good," I slur. I curse myself and the blush I know I'm sporting. She giggles.
"You should feel a little better in a micro, once you're ready, we'll head home," At this point, she sounds like she's singing.
"Thanks, Paige," I manage.
"It's my job," she reminds me.
"I didn't ask you to do this," I remind her.
"I suppose you're right," She's smiling, I hear it.
"You're beautiful," I say, again my mind feels like it's fading and I'm losing sense of where I am.
"Your eyes are closed Beck," she laughs, it's so loud and pleasant in my head.
"I meant…" I take a breath to try to perk myself up and concentrate, it doesn't really work, "I meant on the inside. You as a person."
There's a long silence.
"You haven't known me that long, but thank you."
"I've known you long enough. Bodhi and I picked up on a Program's personlity quick. I would have been left on the train in a different city. No one would have cared," I solemnly let out.
"You don't-"
"I do," I interject softly. It seems the energy is finally taking effect and I feel my body and mind waking up slowly, "I'm surprised you don't, not that many places on the Grid are kind to young Programs."
"You saying I'm young?" she teases, but it feels like she's trying to deflect.
"You're too beautiful to be old. And this time I do mean your looks," I tease. Her nails scratch my head, in what I assume is a warning, but it only makes her stroking feel better.
"You're not too bad yourself you know," her voice is low and I feel my heart quicken.
"Glad to know I'm pretty."
"I meant on the inside," she growls playfully, tugging on my earlobe.
"That too."
There's a silence between us again, but it feels so harmonious and happy that I'm afraid to admit I'm ready. But all good things must come to an end.
"I think I'm ready."
I hear her step back, and I stand. My head gets light again and my vision blurs. I feel her hands on my chest and back as she holds me steady.
"Take it easy, you're not ready to go out on recon missions yet," she teases, but my head is reeling too much and I'm not sure what she's referring to.
When I regain my bearings, I look at her and forget to breathe. She's somehow more beautiful than before, there's a glow about her, and I openly gawk.
"What?" she tiddles.
"Nothing," And I continue to stare. Apparently, this time she has no issues with me staring as I did on the train.
"We should get you home," Is she getting closer?
"Mhm," I hum, she's definitely getting closer.
"Before you pass out," she whispers and I feel her hot breath on my lips.
"Mhm," I hum once more before we're kissing.