Chapter 15

I apologize in advance for the sloppiness of this having to use my iPod to publish it and its being a pain in the and butt this chapter is not as funny as I thought it would be. So, yeah. Sorry.

"Here we are." Beck said as they stopped within the city.

"Wow..." Quorra almost whispered, "It's..."

"Beautiful?" Nico suggested.

Quorra nodded, "Even more than the original Argon was."

"That's saying something. We lost a lot of great architects to the war."

"And we lost more than that." Quorra said, but Beck looked away before anyone could inquire about his expression.

"Anyways..." Nico said, "there's the hospital. And there's the police station_"

"One question," Sam said. When Beck nodded, Sam continued, "How did you get out of_"

"BECK!"

Beck turned at his name as Paige ran up to him. If Beck ever looked anymore relieved to see her, it didn't compare to now. He smiled and pulled her into a casual embrace.

But apparently she was there on a different mission.

"You'd like to explain why you left so early today?" She looked up and pulled out of his hug, crossing her arms.

Beck rubbed the back of his neck as he suddenly realized that she was mad at him. Quorra giggled.

"I um…the Users_"

"You could have at least left a note instead of just leaving me like that." She hissed, "I was worried sick! I thought that..."

She stopped as she took a deep breath and sighed. "Don't do that again."

Beck's cheeks burned red but he managed to say with a smirk, "How may I appease you, oh great one?"

Nico smirked at that.

She didn't say anything, but fixed him with a look. He grinned at that.

"Alright." He quickly pecked her on the lips, "It's a date then, Paige."

Paige pulled him back in for another and the Users stood awkwardly, except Quorra, who was grinning like a maniac.

"Just like old times." Nico heard her mutter. She was going to ask about it when they pulled apart. Paige smirked and poked him straight in the chest.

"Don't be late."

"I won't." He said and she let him go before calmly walking away.

"Have long has that been going on?" Alan asked as Beck regained himself.

Beck seemed self-conscious, and frankly stunned due to Paige, "Uh….a good while now."

"They were somewhat dating when Sam and I had come here." Quorra said.

Everyone's head turned to her.

"You guys were here?!"

"That explains a lot now…."

"We weren't dating! We just…made known our mutual affection."

Quorra turned to Beck on that last, "Right, because a passionate kiss before a mission is just showing mutual affection. I hope you guys got married after the war. You guys are perfect for each other!"

Beck muttered something under his breath so Nico spoke for him.

"He's gotta propose first."

Quorra was absolutely shocked and Nico could feel Beck's dirty look burning into her back but she cheerfully ignored it.

"What?! It's been almost two years and you haven't proposed?"

"…." Beck decided not to answer.

"Beck, you've got to ask her, before she's gone! No one lives forever." Quorra continued, "You don't_"

"How about we focus at the matter at hand?" He said sharply before turning to lead them through the city, leaving the discussion.

After a moment of silent walking, Nico turned to her and asked:

"So, Beck refused to tell me, but how do they know each other so well?"

Quorra smirked, "Oh they go way back, back when he was a Renegade and she a soldier. But they never actually got together until after she switched sides, not long after…" she stopped for a moment, glanced at Beck, then continued, "well, I don't think I should bring that up. But after that, they were closer than almost any other programs could be. They barely left each other's side the first few days and let me tell you, they could not seem to keep their hands off each other…." She added the last part in an attempt to regain the happiness of the moment.

Beck started slightly, and even from the back, everyone could tell he was embarrassed. And so, the moment was regained.

Nico's eyes were wide, "NO WAY!"

"Yes way. I know it's hard to believe when you see him now…but it was that way."

"Then we fought a war. And half the world exploded." Beck said dryly.

"Yeah, that tends to do things to relationships."

"What happened?" Alan asked him,catching up to him to walk side by side. He lowered his voice to a mutter but Nico could hear as she listened to Quorra continue in what now seemed to be background.

"What do you mean?" Beck asked, not meeting his gaze.

"I mean, you've been avoiding this...subject of sorts almost three times now. What happened?"

"Oh." Beck looked down, "That. I...I don't want to say. I don't have to say."

"But_"

"No. Leave me be about it."

"If its a traumatic event, it'll help if you_"

"Tell you?" Beck stopped, finally looking at Alan, his gaze seemingly a hard steel, "I can say it in my own time, so leave me alone."

Beck began to walk off. Alan was stunned, as the gaze had seem familiar somehow. Everyone continued past him, but when Roy touched his shoulder, he regained his senses and followed.

"You alright?" Nico said quietly as she caught up to Beck.

"Fine."

"If you say so..."

After a moment, Beck cleared his throat and said, "I'll have to take you and the others by the council so they can be aware of how many Users are now on the Grid."

He stopped in front of the administrative building. He took a deep sigh, then pushed open the doors. Programs look up at him as he comes to the desk and he's let in. He turned and gestured for the Users to follow. They do and enter the council room where the local members looked up from their discussion to see Beck.

"More Users?"

"Four more."

David sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He obviously didn't want to deal with that at the moment.

"We barely got around with ONE User, Beck! Where do you keep finding them?"

"We keep popping up...like daisies!"

When both programs stopped their conversation to look at Nico, she realized fully what she had said.

"Oh sorry. User idiom. It just means we keep appearing."

"Well, you five better be the only Users on the Grid after this point_"

"I'll be certain of that." Beck cut in before Nico could snap back her reply. "Just wanted to let you know."

Quickly, he ushered the Users out of the building and onto the street. There, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he paced in thought. He was starting to look tired, much older than he was.

"...Now what?" Nico asked finally.

Beck sighed and looked to her, "I guess we go back to my apartment. It's getting late."

Nico nodded, "Alright. Let's go then."