Warning: poorly translated Chinese below!
(also there may be some Spanish that's a bit iffy)
Disclaimer - I don't own Generator Rex
They live in an old water tower. The place is inconspicuous on the outside; deceptively small, brown wood and rusting metal, fading spray paint on the side.
It's slightly illegal, but no one cares about the tower anyway, so they don't worry about it.
It's in a part of town that isn't big on the police either, so no one even tries to report them, and it's sad, abandoned appearance is enough to discourage the thieves nearby.
It's their hideout; their lair. It's perfect.
Rex remembers when it wasn't though – he recalls when it was barely habitable.
It used to be a water tower for some small-time investment company, until the corporation went bankrupt and they had to abandon the building. That part of town, already dubious at the time, became notoriously shady and disreputable and no one else would buy the building.
Years past, nails rusted, people forgot. A few people (hobos, probably) had tried to crash in the water tower before Rex, as evidenced by the poorly fit door and many food wrappers and things.
The smell drove them away, most likely. Rex couldn't breath the first time he stepped foot in there, couldn't do much besides let his eyes water and try not to suck in the horrible, stinging musk of the place.
He would've abandoned it too, honestly, just like everyone else who had given up on it. But then he met Tuck. Then things changed.
Then he decided that although he couldn't do it, maybe they could do this – maybe they could make it a home.
Or at least liveable. Rex thought that was a pretty good compromise.
So they spent months hiding from the world, stealing what they needed, and playing 'house' with a water tower that started off with dead animals in it. They didn't have any parents. They didn't have much food. They had only the money they could steal.
But at the time, for the amnesiac and the outcast, fixing up the place had been fun.
Eventually they moved in cots and a portable stove and chairs. They ran into an older EVO named Ren Zhu, and he helped them immensely, not being flat-broke and all. Probably something to do with the fact that he'd had a job before the Change hit.
Over the years they got a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room complete with a sofa – even a bedroom or two.
It was small, almost cramped at times, but it was nice. It was home.
Rex lived there with Tuck and Ren for a while, till he figured out he could cure people. Ren left a human again, promising to visit. They never saw him again, but they met others.
Rex and Tuck watched four or five people come in, become friends, and leave. Sometimes they hated it. Other times, it just seemed like that was how the world worked.
Now a nice, cozy four live there – Skwydd, Cricket, Tuck, and Rex. Cricket got the back room, Skwydd had glared himself into getting the tiny, bathroom-sized other bedroom, and Tuck and Rex slept in the living room.
They had a pull-out bed on the couch, a cot, and a chair that was surprisingly comfortable to sleep in. Usually Rex claimed the sofa, though, being so called 'leader' and all.
Everyone kinda loved playing family.
Sure, they were too young to work and either had to steal or beg or borrow to eat, and in the mornings everyone hated each other, but they'd found a good place.
They'd found a home.
(present day)
Rex is lying sideways on his chair, blanket pulled halfheartedly over his middle. His boots are still on and his mind can't stop churning as he stares up at the ceiling, an excited smile on his lips.
They have money.
It's such a new concept he's not such that it'll ever really sink in.
They actually have money. Not a few bills, not money enough for groceries, not pocket money – they have serious currency.
He thinks of all the things that could be done with it.
They could fix the part of the roof that leaks when it rains, they could get a laptop so they can watch movies together (he considers a tv but doesn't know how to install one, and doesn't think a cable guy would come up here), they could get new clothes and shoes, they could...they could...
So many possibilities.
The small part of Rex's brain devoted to 'common sense' cautions that he ought to be careful with the money he stole from Quarry, that throwing it around can only lead the man straight to him, but he doesn't want to listen.
His feels uncomfortable and squirmy in his 'bed', in his skin. He wants to go and buy the world for his friends, like right now. Tonight.
He didn't steal from Quarry primarily for comfort, actually he hadn't put as much thought into the theft as is probably smart, but now he wonders why not. If if this is how pumped he feels just having the bills in his possession, how excited will he be when they actually use them?
Still, Cricket's distinct disapproval puts a sour taste on his enjoyment. It taints his good mood even hours after she's gone to bed, hours after he's tried desperately to forget the genuine worry in her gaze.
He insists to himself that she's crazy, even though he's known her for awhile and knows that she's sometimes the most rational one of the group.
She's the one that always says, 'Stop. Think about this'. She's the one who rolls her eyes and walks away when the guys are about to do something they'll regret later. She's the one who actually got a decent education before she Changed(1).
She's the one that only slips into insanity when he grins too wide and she goes into 'crush-mode'.
Tuck and Skywdd are way more likely to act crazy than her.
But she's dragging down his fun. He whines to himself in the dark, feeling like a child.
She's ruining what was supposed to be the best victory of his life.
Scowling, he turns over on his chair – or, as over as he can will such little space.
"She's wrong." He whispers, as though saying it out loud will make it true. "She's wrong."
(5 and 1/2 months ago)
.
.
.
.
He finds Tuck first.
Actually, Tuck finds him, crashes into him while running away, but that's not important. It's pretty overwhelming to meet someone made of bandages, like some sort of mummy monster come to life, though when Rex sees him that's not his first thought.
It's a weird thought, actually, one that makes him question his sanity. As if the real-life mummy before him isn't crazy enough.
Finally, another American.
That accent, that wonderfully perfect pronunciation of English, the phenomenal, unhesitating understanding that bloomed on his face whenever Rex tries to talk.
He has missed this (only he can't remember ever living anywhere else, so how can he miss this?).
Rex forgives his careless running and his appearance and even his rude, "Watch it, punk!" almost instantly, so relieved is he to comprehend someone.
"Hey, you bumped into me." He replies, tone betraying his delight. In the poorly lit alley way he glimpses the boy's eyes widen as he takes in Rex's non-Asian features, his utterly American accent.
"Y-you speak English."
Rex wants to say that's because he is English, or American, or possibly Hispanic, but the words fail as uncertainty plagues him. He can't remember where he was born; he wouldn't know if his claim would be truth.
"And you're like, a mummy." He says instead.
The boy's breathing quickens and he stumbles back a few steps. Rex can see he's about to bolt and as much as he understands, sympathies with the need to flee, he doesn't want this earnest comprehension to end.
"Wait! It's cool." He calls, desperation in his voice. "I can turn into machines!"
Which probably sounds weird, but that's kinda how Rex's life is going at the moment. As if the no memories thing and the lost thing weren't enough on their own.
And the mummy looks about to smile, if only that terrified, pleading smile that you use to reassure crazy people that 'of course you aren't crazy'.
The guy sends a quick glance behind him. Rex feels the beginnings of worry form like mold in his stomach (what is the guy running from?).
"A-are you one of them? One that the nanites Changed?" The stranger asks.
Nanites. Rex has heard that word many times; on the news, in the language of these strangers, and in the empty, echoing lot of his mind. He knows that, due to an accident there are nanites in every living thing, knows that sometimes they change a person and sometimes it ain't pretty.
But there are only whispers of nanites changing someone into something less monstrous. Folk sometimes mention those who mutate but keep their mind, whisper it carefully like it's a secret or a lie.
The thing is, there are so many that argue that they are still monsters. That everyone the nanites change are evil and cruel, and it's only a matter of time before those creatures start killing and destroying, as is their nature.
Rex realized what he was only recently. He is Changed, and monstrous too if he believes the tv. But this boy before him doesn't look the part - and Rex doesn't remember ever feeling like a monster. So what did that make them?
"I guess. I just make machines." He says to the boy in front of him. "And talk to them, occasionally." He adds.
"That's...that's awesome." The boy breathes, toying with bandaged hands. It sounds like he means it.
Underneath fraying white cloth, wide orange eyes are excited and shinning. Rex thinks he's never seen a kid smile like that before – he thinks that in the whole time he's been here, he's never met someone so, so human.
There's a word, a kind, warm word that has fuzzy feelings attached to it like lint or cat fluff clings to clothes – a word that had alluded him for forever. Now, looking at this boy, it is the first thing to come to mind.
Friend. Friend.
He likes the way it tastes on his tongue, loves the potential in the single syllable. Could this boy be a...friend?
His face begins to hurt as a grin stretches over his features.
"I'm Rex. And I don't usually hang out in allies." He introduces himself.
"Um...Tuck."
It feels like the start of something, and Rex offers a gloved hand to shake like he sees people do in American movies.
A loud scream interrupts the almost handshake.
"我覺得他去這樣!"
The pair jump apart, fear driving everything else from the mummy...from Tuck's strangely emotional eyes.
"I have to go!" He cries, taking off in the direction he started in, before Rex was fortunate enough to be standing in the way.
Disappointment swamps him, making him feel so heavy he swears he sinks a foot into the wet concrete. He watches Tuck flee and has a horrible feeling that something important has just slipped through his fingers – it's the very same feeling he gets when he tries to summon a scrap of his past. It hurts, a little. Well...no. It hurts a lot.
Then the voices get louder, footsteps pound against the earth, and he thinks he ought to get going too.
But his feet don't turn the right way – they turn towards the path Tuck just took, and they run fast.
He's spent two weeks completely alone.
He's not letting the first friend he's ever made go so easily.
"Cómo va eso, amigo mío." He whispers as he crouches next to Tuck. A silent flinch reverberates through his linen-wrapped (or maybe completely made of) body and his head whips around to stare at Rex.
"What are you doing here?" Tuck hisses angrily.
"Hiding." He says. "This seemed like a good place."
Tuck rocks uncertainly on his heels for a moment before nearing voices make up his mind for him.
"Just shut up." He mutters, and presses himself deep into shadows.
There's something besides fear rolling around Rex's stomach, something that says he sucks at hiding, but he ignores it and shoves himself from view.
You could take these guys . A cocky, unafraid voice insists. You could beat 'em up, no problem.
He wonders if that's true. It feels like it is – that emotion, that confidence is growing inside, gobbling up his terror to make room for itself.
Just as he's about to stand up and do something stupid, they're here.
"这边走!" One shouts, voice deep and male. The sound of feet scuffing on concrete echoes, bounces around the alleyway.
Tuck's quick, worried breathing quiets to nothing.
Reluctantly, Rex tries to do the same.
It takes what seems to be an eternity to Rex, crouched behind an empty, worn crate, but it's probably only about five minutes. Yet slowly, with curses of frustration, the angry men leave.
Tuck doesn't so much as twitch until not even the faint call of their voices can be heard, and doesn't stand up until there are but simple city noises all around them.
"Well, that was fun." Rex says to break the silence.
"Yeah," Tuck says. "Fun."
The mummy gets to his feet, brushing off dirt and water from his very very old jeans (Rex doesn't even think that makes a difference, the boy's pants are so dirt), and Rex quickly follows suit.
"So why were those guys chasing you?" Rex wonders, eyes curious and interested. (honestly, he's an idiot, how is he so thick?)
Tuck stiffens.
"I...look different." He says. His head is turned away and he's examining the concrete beneath his boots. "Some people think because of that... they think I'm a monster."
Honestly, Rex doesn't believe that (that Tuck could really be a monster), but he also thinks it would be pretty awesome to know one. He'd be able to brag about it to his friends! If he had friends, that is.
"You're pretty cool for a monster." Rex tells Tuck with a smile.
He offers a shaky one in return.
"Wish everybody thought that." He mutters.
"Yeah, well," Rex flounders for a moment. "Not everyone can be cool."
His reward is a tiny, choked laugh from the mummy in front of him. It's sad and beautiful at the same time, the small noise, and suddenly Rex doesn't want a million friends – he just wants one. This one, to be specific.
"Hey, um..." Rex has no idea how to ask this. He doesn't know if he's ever had a friend before. It can't hurt to just ask, can it?
"Wanna be friends?"
There's a wary expression steeling over Tuck's bandaged face, a tenseness to his shoulders that wasn't there a second ago.
"Really? Why?" The boy demands.
It kinda stings, Rex won't lie.
He shrugs,
"Just never had one. Thought you seemed nice."
Tuck relaxes a little.
"Hey, it's cool, though." Rex adds, covering his hurt. "Not a problem. I'm sure lots of other mummies are wandering alley ways looking for new friends. I'll probably find another one soon enough."
A childish, surprised giggle bursts from Tuck, and the boy shakes his head with a full smile on his face.
"I doubt that." He says. "But maybe this one will do."
They stand there for a second before Rex finds the courage to ask,
"You wanna get outta here?"
Because the alley is damp and dark and stinks a little bit, and sure, Rex doesn't have a better place to go, exactly, but they can at least walk cleaner, nicer streets.
And Tuck nods, so they do.
It's been two hours. Rex had enough stolen pocket money (he still isn't sure how money works here - which bills are worth more or less) to buy both of them curry fishballs on a stick (2), and they'd enjoyed their treats as they strolled down the almost deserted street. No one has even looked twice at Tuck or Rex - although Tuck had tugged the hood of his sweatshirt up and shoved his hands into his pockets.
The sun begins to set in between the city buildings. Red and gold play on glass windows and the lights for night bars are starting to flicker on.
Rex knows Tuck will probably leave soon, when night arrives. But this having-a-friend thing has been so fun for the short time it's lasted, and he's not quite ready to go find some abandoned building to crash in and be lonely right now.
So they dally. The pair have meandered into a slightly bad part of the neighborhood, filled with thieves and homeless people - and homeless thieves, Rex supposes - and so Tuck has put his hood down again, walking in plain sight.
"No, no. I'm serious - I'm like, a total loser." Tuck is promising solemnly. "I know what I look like - I'm not cool at all."
Well that just won't do, Rex thinks. He can't have his new friend thinking badly of his (clearly awesome) self.
"No, no! Eres muy chévere!" Rex assures him with a grin. "Eres como una momia egipcia!"
The Spanish rolls off his tongue with ease and familiarity, and he almost doesn't notice he's switched languages until he sees the look on his buddy's face.
Tuck's returning grin is slower, puzzlement lingering in his orange eyes.
"Um...sorry. No comprendo."
Oh.
Rex offers a shrug, slinging his arm comfortably around his new friend. Tuck is surprised but doesn't shrug him off, leaving a warm feeling in Rex's middle like he'd just drunken a cup of hot tea. They continue down the street like that.
No one bothers them.
"So what about Chinese? You know Chinese?" He asks.
"Dude." Tuck groans. Rex wants to laugh because this is the first time someone has gotten him so completely, and it's sorta amazing. "I can't even say hello."
Although the word for hello is on the tip of his tongue, Rex doesn't tell him. Suddenly curiosity grips him, prickles at parts he didn't know were even there.
"So you don't speak a word of Spanish or Chinese, but you're just chillin' in Hong Kong? What are you doing here, bro?"
Tuck's shoulders tense and the pair slow to a stop underneath a blinky street lamp, the gaining darkness sudden all around them. Rex retracts his hand and wishes he hadn't asked. Wishes he doesn't still want to know.
"Well.. you don't speak the language either!" The mummy points out defensively. "Why are you here?"
Rex swears he would kill someone to know the answer to that question.
A lump in his throat, he fixes his eyes on a empty wrapper near his feet. He thinks that friends...friends don't have secrets.
Plus he doesn't even know how to keep secrets, he reminds himself. But he's also never had anyone to tell secrets to, so maybe the former is a lie.
"I...I've always been here." He says, struggling to find the words. He still doesn't look up.
"I woke up here. I was just...I just opened my eyes and I was here. I was standing in an alley, and it was an alley in Hong Kong. I can't remember ever being anywhere else."
Chancing a glance at Tuck he sees confusion, disbelief and feels his heart ache for losing that understanding, that getting-ness between them.
"I don't think I was born here!" He hurries to add. "I mean, I'd probably know Chinese or Cantonese if I were. But...I just...I can't remember it."
Tuck frowns and taps his chin.
Rex waits for him to run or laugh and wonders if, when the boy does one or both, he might cry.
"There's a word for that." Tuck says finally. "I think it's...I think it's called amnesia."
That isn't what Rex thought he'd say.
There isn't..he hadn't thought - there's a word for his problems?
Why hadn't anyone told him?
There could be other people with this issue, there could be- there could even be help, or a cure. This word could fix everything wrong in his life, he thinks, dazed a little.
And yet. Yet...
Yet word hurts nonetheless. It slithers cold down his spine like ice, it tastes smooth and coppery and wrong on his tongue, and he hates it.
He hates that it feels so right.
"Amnesia. Yeah." He agrees, desperately wanting to rinse his mouth of the word. It's weird but it fits - and though upset, some part of Rex falls back into place.
Something clicks inside his head.
And so, swallowing back his emotions, Rex feels a bit of confidence slip back in, and he feels like he can ask Tuck the same question the mummy had pestered him with.
"I told you my crazy story." He says, using a cheery tone to lighten the mood. "I promise you whatever yours is, it can't be half as bad."
Rex pokes him with his elbow a couple times because he can't stand the silence. All this gets him is a glare.
But eventually, Tuck opens his mouth.
"Well, it started two years ago. With my mom." He whispers, rubbing his arms.
There's naught but quiet for a minute, but Rex waits. He stands there as the sun goes down and the cold comes out, and he hears all of Tuck's story.
It's long and tragic and not even Tuck's fault, mostly. It's just kinda the way things go sometimes.
When it's over, Rex gives him a hug - his first hug. And though he has to shove down a little anger, a little jealousy (at least Tuck remembers his family), Rex manages to smile at him at the end.
Somehow, Tuck finds the will to smile back.
Right then and there, under a blinking street light with darkness around them, Rex vows that he won't let anyone else hurt his new, oh-so-fragile friend.
Rex has no idea that in a few months, he will be the one to break that vow.
In a few months, everything will have changed.
(1) Since the term 'EVO' doesn't seem to come into common usage until after Rex meets Providence, for this story I'll be referring to EVO's as 'Changed'. Also, the world is still pretty prejudiced against the more human-like EVO's, even worse than in canon-Rex's time.
(2) A fun street food in Hong Kong. I've never had them but I've heard they're pretty good.
A/N: Sorry for my horrible mangling of Chinese AND Spanish! (do I get credit for trying?)
I have a headcanon that Rex slips into Spanish when scared/really happy/asleep. Sure, his pronunciation probably sucks (like in canon), but I believe he learned Spanish first and it comes more naturally to him.
And to clarify, there will be NO shipping in this fic. There are like eleven year olds here, and that's kinda gross. Canonically, Cricket has a crush on Rex as I will (try) to portray in this, but there will be no romance - only friendship. Lots and lots of friendship.
But yay! Tuck and Rex are total BFFs now! That probably won't turn bad ever :D (...right?)
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!
Translations:
我覺得他去這樣 = I think he went this way!
Cómo va eso, amigo mío = how goes it my friend?
这边走 = This way!
Eres muy chévere = You are SO cool
Eres como una momia egipcia = You're like an Egyptian mummy
Replies to reviews:
YellowAngela: Wow, thanks! I feel so educated now ^^ (that sounded sarcastic...but seriously! That is such a cool story!) Yeah, actually a while back I was interested in learning Cantonese, cause apparently they have very few different sounds (the difficulty comes in tones, supposedly?) but aside from maybe one video on youtube, there's just nada. Zilch. It's really kinda sad. And that's too bad that your kids won't speak it! Don't they know they would be preserving a language?!
Lol but seriously. You are awesome. Thank you for continuing to read this fic.
Guest: You are awesome too! Thank you so much for your reviews! They make me so happy XD