It had been about two weeks since Turbo had seen any trace of Hardcase. The tiger beetle did have a habit of disappearing for awhile and then turning up as if no time had passed. Sometimes he would bring a gift as a unspoken apology for disappearing
And it drove Turbo crazy. Turbo was not the type who enjoyed wondering where his boyfriend was at the latest, darkest hours of the night. Especially when said boyfriend was known for getting into trouble.
Turbo was racing out his worries around the track one late night. Skidmark had currently installed lights around the track for such moments. If it was because Skidmark hated to see him pace in the clubhouse or if it was to draw out aliens Turbo didn't know.
He had made his nineteenth lap that night when he saw a familiar sight near the finish line.
"Thought I'd find you here." Hardcase said, the track lights making his silhouette loom.
"There you are!" Turbo cried, zipping over to Hardcase. "Where have you been?"
It was then Turbo noted the state of his boyfriend. He was covered in cuts and bruises and one of his arms were limp at his side
"What happened to you!" Turbo cried.
"Got into a fight." Hardcase said with a slight shrug of one of his shoulders.
He slumped down to sit on one of the seats around the racetrack.
"A fight! How did you- wait, no, that makes sense for you. But still, you got into a fight? Just… just stay right there."
Turbo zoomed off and returned moments later with bandage strips, and a cotton swab with a bit of rubbing something he had gotten from Chet. He started to clean the wounds carefully, trying to ignore when Hardcase hissed from the stinging.
"So. Mind telling me how you got into this fight?" Turbo asked once he started to wrap the bandage strips.
"Do I have to?" Hardcase asked.
"Yes you do."
Hardcase sighed.
"Well, to start with those other bugs started. I was just walking down near the old movie theater and-"
"Wait. Is this the same movie theater with that gang of silverfish who really, really don't like you?" Turbo asked.
Hardcase hesitated just a moment before answering.
"Yes." he said..
"What did I tell you about going there? You said yourself that the bugs over there hate you. Why would you even go to that area?" Turbo shouted.
"Yeah, yeah." Hardcase grumbled.
Turbo finished with the bandaging, sure he had done a good job even if he was as paranoid about germs as his brother was.
"There. At least now you'll hopefully heal faster." Turbo said.
"Heh, if you think i'm bad you should see the other guys." Hardcase chuckled.
Turbo frowned deeply at Hardcase now. Hardcase noticed the frown and stopped laughing.
"You're mad, aren't you?" Hardcase asked.
"Of course I'm mad. You disappear for weeks and then you come back all beat up. Worst of all you just joke about it like it's nothing. You could have been dead or dying and I wouldn't know."
"This from the snail who constantly gets into his own dangerous situations." Hardcase mumbled.
Turbo's frown went deeper. Hardcase cleared his throat a bit before continueing talking.
"But… yeah. I guess I see your point. I'm just use to not really checking in with anyone, you know? I'm sorry for worrying you and it won't happen again."
With the sincere apology given Turbo's frown eased.
"Promise?" Turbo asked.
"I promise." Hardcase said before leaning down and resting his forehead against Turbo's.
Turbo smiled and closed his eyes a moment.
"Think I can gross out Chet with that cut on my back?" Hardcase asked after a moment.
"Please don't. I'll never hear the end of it if you do that."