Mika walked into the man's nest expecting to see everyone but was stumped when she didn't see anyone. "Hello?" Mika called out, "Is anyone here?". Mika checked the time on her phone to make sure she wasn't too early. Ray had texted the group chat and told them that he needed their help around the man's nest this afternoon. She was the only one that responded to him. Chapa and Miles left him on seen but she figured they'd show up anyways considering that Ray wasn't asking for their help but demanding it. Bose didn't have to worry about it because he was currently in Greece as punishment for not taking out the trash last week.
When Mika expressed her jealousy, Bose offered for her to come. But he didn't understand why she would want to go anyways, his Mom was making him fly first class again. It would be 'torture'.
Mika however declined because there was no way her parents were going to let her fly to another country by herself with a boy they had already suspected she was romantically involved with. Mika had lost count of how many times she told her Mom that she and Bose weren't a thing and they in fact weren't making out in her room. She cursed the memory wiper for only being able to erase the memory of when their secret identities were revealed and left everything before they were kidnapped.
Mika waited for a little while and came to the conclusion that Chapa and Miles had ditched and Ray probably forgot. But finally, Ray came through the revolving door of the Man's Nest with a long list.
Mika stood up from the couch, "Where were you? You said to meet you at 7 at it's 7:26, i postponed cold pilates for this,".
"No i didn't, i said 7:30," Ray condescendingly laughed while taking his phone out to check the group chat. Mika rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as he checked.
"Oh, would you look at that, i did say 7," Ray smiled while shaking his head. "I'm too cute," he added.
"Tell that to your wrinkles and facial creases," Mika quipped and Ray's smile dropped.
"I kicked you out twice, and i can do it again," He warned.
Mika raised her arms to surrender and she pressed her lips together to stop a giggle. She loved getting a reaction out of him.
"What did you need help with anyways," Mika questioned as Ray put his phone away. "Scwhoz is out of town for the week so i need help going through this chore list he left," Ray informed. Mika groaned, she knew what that meant. She wished she could be like Chapa and Miles and disobey Ray when it came to small tasks.
Mika crossed her arms again, "And by help you mean..."
"I'm making you kiddos do most of the work!" Ray cheered.
Mika huffed, "Where do I start?". Ray's face lit up and he went through the list, "Let's see,".
Mika waited impatiently as Ray made small comments about the stuff on the list. Ray decided on what Mika would do "First, you can go down to Level B1 and give the creepy clones their daily supplements and then you can clean out the-"
"Wait? The clones!? They're still in the Man's Nest?!" Mika interjected. "Yeah, why?" Ray shrugged. "I thought Schwoz said he would take them to a safe facility across the border where they'd be comatosed," Mika recalled. "That was the plan but then I realized I'd miss them too much," Ray sighed.
Mika stomped her foot. This was so irresponsible of them. "They're too dangerous to be together, especially now that we know that they could regenerate their superpowers at any time with no strings attached. Their biology is unpredictable," Mika nagged. "Ugh, they're fine, we put them in separate units, besides those supplements I'm asking you to give them blocks out any chance of them regaining their powers," Ray assured. "And they're okay with that?" Mika lifted an eyebrow. It seems very unlikely that the clones would willingly limit their chances of breaking free. "Of course they are! As long as they think it's nothing more than bacon-flavored water," Ray folded up the list.
Mika opened her mouth to speak but Ray didn't let her, "Chop chop! Time waits for no man". Ray snapped his fingers in Mika's ears, she let out a grumble and bit her tongue. Mika tightened her fist and strolled away through the revolving door, eager to get away from her man-child of a boss.
)))))))))
When Mika went into Scwhoz's science lab to fetch the supplements and supplies she found a note from Schwoz advising her not to conversate with the clones. He must have known that Ray would dump all the work on one of them. Schwoz claimed that they could be manipulative and cruel at times. Especially the one with long brunette hair and tendencies to almost charm Scwhoz into letting him out of his cell.
Mika put the supplements into a tray and made her way to level B1. This hall was different from all the others because the lights were dimmed and flickering, the floors were rough concrete and there were only four rooms that were super spread out. It was making her skin crawl and she had a bad feeling. "Dark and creepy, I'm sure the evil clones find this place quite homey," Mika thought out loud. She brushed the eerily sentiment and strolled over to the very last door.
Mika picked up an access card from off the tray and inserted it into the keycard entry system. Mika put in the four-digit pin and a green light appeared by the handle. She was hoping that the pin would be denied and she wouldn't have to do this. Mika closed her eyes to prepare herself.
Mika turned the handle and she heard a clicking sound. She slowly opened the door and peeked inside before stepping in. It was dingy, she could barely make out anything inside. It was then that she realized she had no idea which clone she came to see.
Mika stepped into the middle of the room, suddenly the lights came on and she jumped. In the corner, the familiar face of Bose came to light. Even with the lights on it was still considerably dim. "Hey gorgeous, ever heard of knocking?" Clone Bose said smugly. Mika swallowed a lump in her throat at the way he stared at her.
It was Bose, but it wasn't.
His hair was longer than Bose's by like three inches, his eyes were darker and his skin was just a little pale. Which made sense because she doubted he got much sunlight.
Mika glanced around the room and was surprised to see that it looked normal. She wasn't expecting to see a generic duplicate of teenage boys' rooms. If a teenage boy's room had tripled metal doors and smooth concrete walls. The room was small and it looked lived in, It had a bed, a carpet, a desk, a chair, a small trash can, dressers, a weight set, and even a bookshelf itself. There was another door at the right of the room and she assumed that was where the bathroom was.
Mika looked at clone Bose and caught him eyeing her up and down. Mika became flustered, held the tray closer to her, and tightened her grip. Mika couldn't help but notice his arms were more defined than the real Bose's. She could see he worked out, what else would he be doing being locked in this room?
Mika didn't know what to say. Luckily she was instructed not to say anything anyways. Mika cleared her throat and put the tray down on the bed. "So you're not much of a talker, that's a relief. I could never get the other you to shut up,". Clone Bose remarked.
She notices the heavy tone he spoke with. Geeze does puberty catch up to clones faster than regular people? Mika thought. Mika ignored him, she would give him the supplements and be on her way. Mika took a cup from her set when she felt a tug on her ponytail. "What the hell," Mika immediately turned around and shoved Clone Bose. Mika hadn't even heard him move in the first place, she hadn't detected him coming behind her. "So she speaks," He smirked and crossed his arms.
His smirk made her want to rage. He mounted over her and for a moment they locked eyes. His challenging hers and hers daring him to try it. Before reaching his hand out to put a strand of hair behind her ear alluringly, she caught his wrist quickly and maintained eye contact. "You touch me again and I'll snap off your middle finger," She warned. Mika felt her inner Chapa come out. Clone Bose bit his lip to resist a grin. It was fun watching someone so little act so threatening, it was enticing to him. "Clone you would have done worse," he sneered. Mika let go of his wrist and shoved him again.
Of course, he was a jerk, the opposite of Bose.
Mika took a deep breath to calm herself. She picked up the tray and sat on the bed with it instead so that way he wouldn't try anything. "First you barge into my room like you own the place and now you're sitting on my bed, where are your manners," he pretends to pout. Mika went back to drowning him out and picked up where she left off. "I know Schwoz told you not to talk to me, but come on, it's not often i have a pretty girl in here," Clone Bose slouched in his chair.
As Mika poured the IV liquid into the cup and then put two supplements in, she took note that he's called her both gorgeous and pretty in under five minutes. "I'm just here to do my chore and nothing more, if you need someone to talk to I'm sure the walls would be more than happy to listen," Mika stirred the liquid. She wasn't usually snarky but he was making a bad impression on her. "Ouch, that hurt my feelings," He put his hand where his heart should be, and Mika rolled her eyes.
He chooses to be quiet and let Mika work. Clone Bose took hold of the book on his desk and opened it to finish up his reading. As Mika waited for the supplement to dissolve her eyes wandered over to the tall brunette. He was handsome, just like the original Bose. Mika regarded the book he was reading and instantly became intrigued. She couldn't help but ask, " You take a liking to the Separate Peace".
He wasn't aware that she was talking to him at first because usually when he picks up a book after the first two sentences he completely indulges in it. "Yeah, it's one of my best loves", he looked at her and saw the shimmer in her eyes. "Really? Mine too. What part are you up to?" Mika gleamed. She forgot that he was being an asshole to her less than a couple of minutes ago. "Actually I've finished it, it's just a re-read,". He informed. Mika was impressed, she herself hadn't even finished it yet. It was a tuff read but the book was captivating and she liked a challenge.
"So you're like, smart?" Mika questioned. "Yeah something like that," He almost smiled at the question, almost. Clone Bose doesn't remember a time when he genuinely smiled, there was never a reason to. Mika put the tray down and reluctantly strolled to him, she peeked inside his book to see words highlighted, underlined and circled. There were also small sticky notes poking out on some of the pages. Clone Bose lifted his chin to see Mika watching over his work in awe.
Maybe now wasn't the time, but Mika did love a man who knew how to annotate.
She took this time to observe his room again and saw things that didn't catch her eye at first. The bookshelf was filled with novels and novels. There was a DNA model sitting on the floor to the side and it looks like he made it himself. There was a chessboard and a wide chalkboard on the left of his wall. Mika was amazed to see all the complicated problems he was working on but one, in particular, caught her attention.
"You know diophantine equations?" Mika squealed.
"You know I'm starting to take offense to these questions," He spouted.
Mika turned to him, it was unusual, she's never met a boy her age that was as articulate as her. Mika turned back to the chalkboard and pick up a piece of chalk. "What are you doing?" He said annoyed. He wasn't used to people touching his stuff, and this girl did everything without asking. Sure he technically wasn't real, but he still deserves the same respect as an original. Clone Bose envied the real Bose. He despised being Bose's shadow self.
Mika picked out a problem and then turned back to see Clone Bose leaning against the wall. He mockingly chortled at her, "Give it your best shot, you're gonna need it,". Clone Bose thought that there was no way a simple girl could figure out such a complex equation.
But in under a minute, Mika had solved the equation and drew a little heart next to her answer to tease him. Clone Bose's mouth hung open for a moment, he was galvanized.
"You're smart?" He smickered. "Something like that," Mika smiled, put the chalk down, and clap dusted her hands.
Mika went back to the tray and placed the dissolved supplements on his desk.
"I like this you," he put his hands in his pocket and approached her, "The other you is beautiful and all, but she's a complete bimbo," he added. Mika turned around and Clone Bose was mounting her again. And there he was, back to being an asshole. She didn't appreciate being called stupid, no matter what version of her he meant. His superiority complex made her want to test his abilities and watch him crumble as he proved him wrong.
"Do you have a thing for the other me because you've sure brought her up more than a few times?" Mika tucked the tray under her arm. "I do actually, but i think i have an even bigger thing for you," He revealed.
Mika's breath got caught in her throat, she was just trying to mess with him. Was he flirting with her? Bose has flirted with her many times, but it was always cute. Clone Bose's way of flirting had the same subtle but it was more confident and it made the wheels in her brain turn.
It was no secret that Mika was attracted to Bose. So it was inevitable that she'd be attracted to his clone too. But she didn't just have a crush on Bose because of his looks. He was sweet and thoughtful, and always put her before himself. He wasn't exactly on her level of intellect but it was always good enough for her.
However, because of the time she's spent with Clone Bose, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something missing when it came to her feelings for Bose. The darkness Clone Bose possessed was bewitching her. His openness about his feelings and thoughts about her turned Mika's stomach in a, dare she say, steller way.
"I'll tell you what, you let me out of here, and I'll take you out," he charmingly took her hands. His voice became surreal and Mika fell into a trance, "Then we can talk all about the Sepearete Peace and diophantine equations,".
Mika felt her heart rate take speed and her mind couldn't phantom that this wasn't Bose. Her Bose.
She underestimated how much she was actually wanting him because she didn't stop him when he leaned down and placed a rough kiss on her pillowy lips. Mika found herself kissing him back. She dropped the tray to wrap her arms around his neck and he pulled her waist closer. He deepened the passionate embrace, Mika felt butterflies emerge and the adrenaline took over. Mika let out a sharp breath when he bit her bottom lip for entrance.
This was wrong, all wrong. She can't want him, he wasn't a good person. How could she not hear the alarms ringing in her head?
For a very brief period of time during their small make-out session, she felt like this was okay. Luckily it was only for a brief period of time because she stumbled back from the kiss when she fully comprehended what was happening. This was not okay.
He was trying to trick her so she could let him out. She was just a pawn in a bigger game, that's the only reason he stood there and kissed her. In a panic, Mika pushed him aside once more and picked up the tray. She searched for the keycard in her pocket and she didn't look back as she swiped it. Mika opened the door and quickly shut it when she was out.
Clone Bose had been so mesmerized by their shared kiss that he lost sight of the fact that he could have overpowered her and escaped when she opened the door. His hands reached to touch his lips and he swore he could still feel her. That wasn't supposed to happen.
For the first time, Clone Bose felt like he existed and it was because of her.
Mika pushed her back against the opposite side of the wall and slouched down. The tray slipped from her hands and she tangled her finger's in her scalp. Mika was so confused. She should have known better. Schwoz warned her about him. It seemed like she would never get this moment out of her head.
Mika swallowed an aching lump in her throat as she stared at Clone Bose's closed door. What he made her feel during that kiss and even before was the most she'd ever felt. He really was a master at manipulation.