Wow, what's this? A second update? In one day? It's the end of the world~ This is just an omake/bonus that's not entirely necessary to understand the story, but expands the characters. There's going to be more omake/bonuses throughout the process of this fic, some more important than others. I was going to include some earlier on in the fic but in the end, decided not to delay the bigger plot of the fic so I wanted to wait until the bigger plot came on first before including bonuses. Note that most of the bonuses will be a bit shorter than length while others may be as long as a full chapter.
I know that I haven't been exactly clear on A.D.'s gender, which is kinda on purpose to a degree because he's more feminine presenting than most non-gender confirming people. But anyway, to clear any confusion, A.D. is a transmale (Danny wasn't sure of his gender thus using they/them pronouns a huge portion of the time), which means he was assigned female at birth. He doesn't mind they/them pronouns, but if he's honest, he'd prefer he/him.
IMPORTANT- I can't remember if I said this before or not, but I have created a playlist for this fic. So I highly suggest listening to it while reading the fic because the songs I choose really fit the fic as a whole pretty good I think. It's called Science Fiction - Fic Playlist on YouTube, if you type the title of the playlist in, it's the first one to come up. If anyone wants to ask why certain songs were chosen, feel free to PM me.
~CWA
OMAKE/BONUS I
GoGo
My bubblegum bubble pops every few seconds as I walk toward the familiar gym, a bit of a sway in my hips. My eyes are clouded from thought. I'm not one for drama and is usually the first to say it like it is, but I can't help but hold my tongue this time. Not until I get the full story. Not until all this dies down. The only thing I know is that Hiro went from hating Danny's guts for whatever damn reason to loving him like a brother again in what seems to be in a blink of an eye. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the two obviously had some sort of heart-to-heart talk and I'm almost curious about what Danny possibly could have said to Hiro.
My best guess is that Hiro was mad at Danny about the fire, maybe from running in, or maybe from not saving Tadashi sooner. We all know how Hiro lets his emotions control what he's thinking and doing and saying a huge portion of the time. He vaguely reminds me of me when I was his age. Except without the bloody monthly gifts. Man that was hell and I thank the higher powers that birth control helps with that mess. I'm pretty sure Camila (or as Fred calls her, Honey Lemon) is thankful for that too considering she's the one that's stuck with me as a dorm mate/room mate/whatever.
But my mind drifts back to Tadashi, causing an unsettling turn in my gut. He's one of my best friends, even if I don't always admit it, and as I think about him in that hospital with the IVs, the wire, the bandages, looking in such a bad condition that it's a miracle he's even alive, my breathing hitches. I know he won't be alive if it isn't for Danny- that blockhead- running in after him. Even if I'm not sure how he even saved Tadashi. It should be impossible. To be inside the fire one second just before it explodes only to be a safe distance away a moment later. I suppose it just adds to Danny's mystery…
Hell, since when isn't Danny a bit of a mystery. It seems every few months we're learning something new about him that just shocks us to our core. At this point, the only surprise he can possibly have left for us should be his own death…. Fuck it, if Danny ever dies, I'm sure his ghost would be haunting the shit out of us without a second's thought. Heh. Maybe he already is a ghost. Maybe that's why he can pull off so many pranks.
I shake my head slightly and clear my mind as I walk into Gym Neutral. I barely even glance to A.D., who as usual, sits behind the counter with his head on the counter top in a half-asleep daze. I know by now that he- he/they, either way A.D. says that they/them or he/him works as long as it's not she/her- only has two settings. A flirtatious, over the top extravagant side that shows itself a good portion of the time. And a tired, half-asleep knucklehead the other half of the time. Still, while Tadashi is one of my best friends, A.D. is the best friend. Even if we push the boundary of best friendship a few times with how many times that idiot steals my sweaters and heels whenever he ends up staying the night in my dorm room. Which doesn't happen often since Honey Lemon isn't always comfortable with it- so we time it whenever she's gone and there's no one to snitch to the professors.
A.D. looks tiredly up at me from his spot behind the counter, his eyes droopy and baggy. He doesn't look like he's gotten much sleep lately. But since when does he sleep in the first place? And I mean actually sleep, the good eight-hour, deep sleep in an actual bed?
"Hey," A.D lacks his usual enthusiasm and flirtatious tone, instead he sounds soft and gentle, comforting and serious in a way that momentarily takes me off guard, "...I heard about Tadashi. How you holding up?"
And here I thought I could just get away from this and take my frustrations out on a poor punching bag. I pop my bubblegum one last time before tossing it into a nearby trash can. He watches me carefully, the same gentle expression on his face even even as I plop down on the counter, forcing him to lean back into his seat to make room for me. I stretch my legs across the counter top and rest on my elbows to give me some support. A.D. doesn't voice any complaints- he rarely does.
Instead, A.D. just sighs and eventually leans back forward and rests his arms on my stomach with his chin on top of his hands. But his head is turned toward me with that same damn expression, causing me to wince. I hate that expression. That damn expression. The I'm sorry for you look. The look that makes me feel smaller than I already am. I've received that look enough times in my life and Goddamnit I don't want to see it anymore.
"If you don't knock that expression of your face, I'm going to knock you out of that chair," I say calmly, glancing at him briefly before turning my gaze toward the ceiling.
He hums a bit, the vibration jiggling my stomach just a bit- and I know said jiggling is why he snorts in a vain attempt to cover some stray chuckles a second later. But he doesn't push it any farther and stretches as he leans back into his chair. The once serious expression is gone from his face, replaced with his usual flirtatious grin, but his eyes still seem to hold a slightly more somber tone that he can't just hide. Just when he opens his mouth to talk, someone behind me- someone I can't currently see- seems to get his attention as he perks up with confidence and an easy grin.
"Hello, welcome to Gym Neautral," A.D. greets with a flirtatious wink, "Where everyone and anyone is welcome to try me out."
If he meant to say try it instead of try me then he doesn't correct himself. But now I gotta see the poor sap that A.D. is trying to reel in now. I roll off the counter with ease just as A.D. stands from his chair and goes to give a more personal greeting to the newcomer, leaving his seat free for me to take. Huh. His seat is really comfy. No wonder he sits here all the time. Hell, I can even feel the small indent in the chair from his butt. Heh. Small indent.
I quirk an eyebrow when I see the person whose caught A.D.'s eye- none other than Christine Bachmeier, leader of the Dimensional Theory Club. Granted, I don't necessarily talk to my ex that much, if at all, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize her when I see her. Even if she does have some new tattoos and apparently a new hair cut- since when did she get it short? I force myself to not focus on how she looks and instead focus on the fact that A.D. is flirting with her. Adrian. Flirting. With possibly the most demisexual girl I have ever known in my life…. Oh this is going to be funny.
A small smirk stretches on my face as I sit back and enjoy the show. A.D.'s grin doesn't falter as he puts a hand on his cocked hip, his shoulders back and head high with confidence. How can he stand so well in heels- or even be in a gym in heels in the first place- is one thing I never have and never will figure out. Christine takes an uncertain step back, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks as her normally friendly exterior falters.
"I-I'm sorry, I just heard that this gym is one of the best in the city and had to come check it out…"
A.D. still has a flirtatious expression, but tones everything down a little when he notices how uncomfortable she is. Christine tries to look at anything but him, causing her to lock eyes with me for a brief moment. Her eyes widen at the sight of me in the chair, but I just smirk and give her a small wave, making it clear that I'm not going to help her out of this mess. Not yet anyway.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off so forward, I just see a beautiful person and it's hard to control myself. My name's Adrian, but everyone calls me A.D."
He offers a hand for her to shake and she hesitates before gently gripping it in her own. She slowly shakes his hand, a small smile hesitantly appearing on her face.
"Christine."
A.D. repeats her name to himself, leaning forward her just a bit as she shakes his hand, close enough that he is invading her space a bit too much for anyone's comfort.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful person."
Christine's blush grows and she quickly yanks her hand away, cradling it to her chest as she looks to me, pleading me for help. Oh fine. I suppose I can take pity on her a bit earlier than planned. The smirk on my face stays as I call out to A.D.,
"She's demisexual, dumbass, you're not going to get anywhere!"
A.D.'s expression instantly drops, a pout forming on his lips. I knew that he'd know what demisexual meant- if anyone did, it'd be him for sure. I'm also sure that this isn't the first time he's tried climbing a tree that doesn't have any branches unless you're the right height. In other words, demisexuals don't feel sexual attraction, not unless it's someone that they have a bond with first. So some stranger- aka A.D.- hitting on them trying to get something isn't much help.
But to his credit, he recovers pretty quickly, standing up straight with a friendly, warm smile and I see Christine relax a bit at his more welcoming exterior.
"Ah well, can't win them all," A.D. winks, though its much more playful and teasing, "I may be a whore, but I'm a whore who knows when to stop."
They say it with so much confidence that it would take most people off guard. Course it doesn't help that he also says it with a huge grin on his face with a cheerful tone. Christine looks a lot more comfortable now, if a bit flustered and awkward, but she does return his grin with one of her own and a small dip of her head in greeting before she turns to me.
"So Hye," Christine tilts her head curiously, "I didn't know you came here? Do you work here? Oh my gosh, don't tell me you've worked here for a long time and I just never noticed when we were dating? I'm sorry," Christine begins to babble, not even stopping to take a breath even as she speaks like a million words per second, "I know I don't listen well so you probably did tell me and I just never heard you, or maybe you don't work here. Maybe you're just chilling behind the counter for some reason. Are you just one of her friends or something?"
Sometimes it's weird hearing my own name when I'm so used to being called GoGo around the lab, but that's not very concerning right now. What's concerning is the fact that as she says are you just one of her friends or something, she jabs a thumb toward A.D. and I can see it in his face that something snapped inside of him. His body tenses and all previous merriment leaves him, revealing a whole new side of him that I've never seen before. Though no one at the gym is stupid enough to assume anyone's pronouns or gender.
It's...almost curious to see A.D. get this way. Especially when he's usually relatively calm. But now… I can see it in his eyes. A steeliness. A fire. His jaw locks and his fists clench at his sides. I can see that he's trying to calm himself down- and failing at that- and I know I have a bit of anger stirring inside of my gut as well. But there's something different about him. A sharp edge that seems like he could cut someone at one wrong move. The other people in the gym share cautious looks and a few even go as far as backing away from the situation, eying A.D. as if he could lash out any second.
"Him, Christine," I snap, trying to correct her before A.D. completely looses it, "A.D. is a him. Or a they on occasion."
Christine furrows her brows briefly, but seems to understand what I'm saying as the realization quickly dawns on her. Her face turns a bright red, spreading all the way to her ears as she lets out a few nervous, jittery sputters as she waves her hands in defense.
"I- I didn't realize, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeats her apology a few times, turning to A.D. as she does so, "I really didn't mean anything by it and I didn't know, but I shouldn't have assumed and I'm sorry, man. Really. You're very handsome so I should have realized and I didn't and man, I'm just really sorry- A.D., isn't it? Yeah, I'm sorry A.D. Next time I misgender someone by accident, just spray me with a water bottle if you have to, but now that I know I have no intentions to do it again. Why don't we start over? My name's Christine, I'm one of Hye's many exes so I didn't exactly expect to see her here, but I came here because I heard that this is one the most people-friendly and laid back gyms in the city."
She sticks her hand out toward him with a nervous expression on her face and I can see the rapid fall and rise of her chest. I nod in content and lean back in the chair, satisfied that she's at least trying to apologize. Though A.D.'s reaction surprises me slightly. Normally, he doesn't hesitate to accept an apology, going from mad or sad to cheerful in a blink of an eye. This time, however, he turns to look at her with a strained expression on his face, hesitation dancing in his eyes as he looks toward her outstretched hand. He's hesitating, unsure of what to do or what to say. I can see the hurt and pain reflected in his irises, but at least he doesn't look angry anymore. Each passing second makes Christine get more and more jittery as she shifts her weight from foot to foot. Finally, after what seems like forever, A.D. sighs and a small, though cautious, smile stretches across his face as he gently shakes her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Christine. Name's Adrian, but most people call me A.D. Might I say that you look lovely today," he winks playfully.
Annnddd he's back, I roll my eyes slightly as everyone in the gym breaths a sigh of relief that A.D. is back to his normal self. For the most part anyway. He may be playful and all smiles now, but there's still a bit of pain reflecting in his eyes that tell me that he's not entirely over it. Though I'm sure that Christine calling him handsome helped him recover a lot. That guy's got a head as big as Mars as he continues to shamelessly flirt with Christine- though it does work as it breaks the ice and Christine seems to know there's no oomph behind the flirtation and continues to playfully flirt back with him.
I watch in amusement as they both flirt, Christine giggles and there's a smile on her face as the tension releases from her shoulder, completely comfortable in the situation now that it's just friendly, teasing flirtatious comments rather than A.D. actually flirting (like the first time).
"Good to see you two getting along so well," I mutter slightly, shifting in the seat, causing both to look at me with quirked eyebrows.
They share a knowing look before A.D. grins and hops easily over the counter to join me in the seat, hugging me tightly. He coos as if I'm a small child and hugs me close to his chest with his arms wrapping tightly around me. Half of his body is on top of mine from the awkward position- me in the chair and him standing, leaning over said chair.
"Awww, poor little Hye," he coos, and despite the embarrassment he's causing me, I'm glad he's not calling me GoGo (which only be more embarrassing in front of Christine), "Don't feel left out- we love you~"
I scoff and don't hesitate to gently shove him off of me, he stumbles backward a bit, but quickly regains his balance as he gives me a playful wink, blowing a kiss as he does so. I roll my eyes, but there's a small smile twitching on the corner of my lips as I finally get up from the seat.
"As fun as this is, I should get back to the college before they get themselves into trouble without me there to knock sense into them. See ya, A.D.," I turn briefly to Christine, "And nice to see you, Christine. You know where to find me if you ever wanna catch up or something. See ya."
I give them a mock, two-finger salute and lazily grab my gym bag before heading out. I originally planned on staying for longer- much longer- but even though that visit was short, it was a bit draining and shocking with Christine, enough so that I don't think I have the energy to work out anymore.
Maybe I should just get a coffee or something. Waffles, maybe? I'm not that hungry- never am really- but I wouldn't say no to waffles…. Besides, maybe going to that waffle place Tadashi loves so much may ease some of my fears. I continue walking down the street with ease, despite the fact that the sun is beginning to set and it's quickly growing darker by the second. I'm not necessarily a big person, but I can take care of myself. After all, I have learned from the best- A.D. can be a force to reckon with when he wants to be and is, by far, one of the best teachers I've had in terms of martial arts and defense.
But the sudden feeling of being watched hits me, causing my eyes to narrow into dangerous slits as my body tenses. I keep walking, steady with each pace, but I look from the corner of my eyes for the signs of anything or anyone. I'm met with empty streets aside from the cars that lay parked on the sides. Not a living soul in sight. A small shiver goes down my spine at the sudden chill that goes through the air and I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge. Then I see it. A lone, dark shadow that stays a good distance away, barely even visible even as it stands near the street light. Even through the shadowed features, I can see the gleam of red glasses as it looks up and locks eyes with me, but the second I blink, it's gone.
The chill disappears from the air. The hair on my neck calms. But the feeling of being watched lingers around me and for once in my life, I feel… scared. Unsettled. I wrap my arms tight around me and walk a bit quicker. There's no mistake about what I saw. I know what it was. I know that it's still there, somewhere, watching me. I don't know who it is (was?). Or what it wants with me. I'm not sure I even want to know. Hopefully, it'll be gone by the time I get back to the college and snuggle under the warmth of the blankets in my dorm. I can defend myself. I know I can. Against people.
Danny's supposed inventions and theories aside as I doubt I could access them if I wanted to and Danny's made it pretty obvious he's got more important stuff going on, how does someone defend themselves against a ghost?
