(present day)
It's difficult going to sleep that night. Impossible, in fact.
I'm not afraid of Quarry. Rex insists to himself over and over. I'm not.
But come tomorrow, everyone else is.
When he leaves the hideout the next day (well, in the next few hours, he supposes), there's a subdued sort of terror creeping first into the dark parts of the city. The fear grows silently, quickly, and engulfs everything, especially noise, within the hour.
Really, most have no idea what has happened. No one mentions the word 'theft'. Maybe that's what makes it worse – the fact that they don't know what happened, only that Quarry is pissed.
Well okay, no. He's not pissed.
Quarry is livid. Never having met the man, Rex doesn't know what his rage is like in person, but the second-hand madness is pretty terrifying in itself.
Everyone is quiet. Scared. The slightest prying reveals nerves and explosions that they immediately regret, the slightest push has them swearing that they know nothing.
Many people go into hiding, not even out of force – purely out of fear. Most people refuse to show their face.
Early in the afternoon, Rex stops by the Gang's favorite sushi place, intent on buying the most expensive thing there only to find that Mr. Xiao has closed it for the day.
He frowns intently at the sign taped on the inside of the door. 'Family emergency', it says.
Xiao's only living relatives reside in America.
It's with hunger and something else rolling in his stomach that he trudges away, frown clinging to his face.
These are the consequences Cricket tried to warn him of, he realizes, a bit of doubt creeping in. This is what you didn't see coming.
Rex had known that he would make the crime boss furious – he had – he simply hadn't predicted the full reach it would go.
No matter, he tells himself. You wanted to upset Quarry.
"Good job." He mutters quietly, scuffing his boot against the sidewalk.
The day's initial glee and excitement are tainted now, dirtied by uncertainties and realities and plenty of other things he hadn't thought through.
He shuffles through their neighborhood and on to a less shady one, hands shoved deep in pockets and head pondering half-baked decisions.
Rex decides he doesn't regret this. He won't regret this, he can't. All the original reasons for stealing from this very influential man still lurk deep inside, all the dislike for what he did and the hatred for how he lived.
In his mind, Rex can still picture the way all three of his friends tensed when he casually mentioned the rich guy.
He can visualize the way Tuck slows whenever the pair passes by one of Quarry's buildings, can almost feel how quiet and terrified the mummy gets. Tuck has never even met the guy and yet the mere name of him is enough to send him back to how he was before Rex ran into him.
He can see vividly Skwydd come home in the early days and tug down a sleeve on his bruised arm, can hear him growl that his past is none of Rex's business.
Rex can't picture the look on Cricket's face when they walk past a crime scene that has Quarry written all over it, but that's only because he has never looked – he can't bear to see the horror and shock there.
So maybe it had been a rebellion in part. Maybe it had been pure disgust at how Quarry's very ripples ruined everything they touched.
Maybe Rex just couldn't stand his family living in fear.
Whatever the reason, he's adamant that the crime boss deserved it and more, and if he had a second chance he'd do the same thing all over again.
Somehow though, he thinks as he swallows and stares out at the city, this was supposed to create less fear.
But maybe this panic would diminish if they knew that Quarry had just been messed with. Badly. And more than that?
They'd gotten away with it scot-free.
A smile slowly tugs itself across his face and he spins on his heel, turning to run back the way he came.
Rumors work both ways, don't they? And Rex knows just the people to help him start one.
(5 months ago)
Silently, unspoken, the pair reach a mutual decision - they are not to be parted.
But they still have to sleep.
"Mi casa, es su casa." Rex says, gesturing grandly to the hovel that is his home. Sure, there's broken bits of bottles and so much dust that you could choke, but it's nice and dark, and there's oodles of corners and crannies that one can curl up in. The building was once upon a time a restaurant of some sort - now several boarded up windows have been unboarded, and most of its bricks lay scattered on the ground.
Tuck takes one look at his current crashing site and drags Rex away.
His grip is tight and worried on his arm, unrelenting and...scratchy, somehow.
"No." Is all he says. "Just..no."
Even if Rex can't remember any other home, he too recognizes the awfulness of it and lets Tuck lead him someplace new.
Who was he kidding! He had known the place was rank the very first night he'd spent there. But when one has no where else to go...
Well. You pretend what's there is enough.
Glancing over his shoulder, Rex eyes the building - the only place he can remember living - one last time and sighs.
Good riddance.
No place can be any worse than that. Rex thinks, feeling optimistic. Yeah. The mouse in the corner was starting to look murderous. Also, the smell wasn't getting any more pleasant.
Sometime after the third turn around a dark alley corner, he starts to wonder though.
"So..uh...where are we going?"
Because this is starting to feel familiar, and he's somewhat worried that Tuck's going to beat him up and take his money or something. Well, Rex has no money right now, but still. Tuck may not know that.
"Somewhere...safer. That building you were staying at is where gangs and druggies go sometimes. Two weeks ago there was shooting there."
A shiver crawls down Rex's spine. He could've been sleeping near the spot where someone died. Ew.
"Oh." Tuck says suddenly, letting Rex go and rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I kinda saw that bad place and just freaked out. You didn't leave any stuff back there, did you?"
Rex thinks of paper cups with tea and empty food wrappers.
"No." He says truthfully.
"Good." Tuck smiles. "I-I just...I didn't want you to stay there are get hurt. You don't have to - I mean, I was just gonna lead you to this neighborhood with people like us."
Rex squints at him.
"Changed." Tuck clarifies. "People there aren't freaked out by appearances like mine," Here he gestured down at himself, "And usually they won't like, stab you in the back while you're sleeping. So, you know - I thought it would be a step up. From where you were staying."
Fair enough, Rex thinks.
Abruptly Tuck looks embarrassed, and would probably be turning red if his skin wasn't made out of white strips of cloth. It's as if he's not supposed to be caught caring about another human being, or something.
"Y-You don't have to stay there. You can do what you what. Well...j-just please don't stay there anymore. Any other place is fine. It doesn't have to be the one I'm going."
A laugh bursts from Rex. He pats his friend on the back, cutting off any more abashed ramblings.
"It's cool, man. Thanks for the warning - I really would hate to wake up shot tomorrow. Now show me this Changed 'hood you was talking about."
"Okay, yeah." Tuck says. He pauses, back against a wooden building, and shoots Rex a look.
"Don't say 'hood, though."
"What? Why?"
"Just..no. You can't pull off 'hood'."
"Cheh. Whatever dude."
"Seriously. You are not a gangster."
"Tú no sabes lo que estás hablando!"
What Tuck shows him is nothing special - Rex thinks it looks little nicer than the place he was crashing at.
The neighborhood is dark; spray paint on every available wall, apartments full of broken windows, and corners crowded with suspicious, lingering figures with hands stuffed down their pockets. It seems just as bad as Rex's old 'hood (and yes, he is saying 'hood' -Tuck is his friend, not the boss of him), but after a second look, there are subtle differences.
For one, most of the people milling around are covered up - they have long sleeves and hoodies or hats - and they spend most of their time with their heads down, eyes up and darting. Another difference is the way they actually acknowledge the pair of dirty kids.
Usually, if someone looked or talked to Rex, it meant he was in trouble and should run.
Here? It means he's among friends.
Or so Tuck claims.
They pass another tall dark shape and it nods at them, whispers in a hoarse tone,
"'Sup, Tuck."
A smile blooms on the mummy's face. It's so bright that Rex has to blink a few times in the darkness, adjust his eyes to this sudden happy in front of him.
"Ren!" Tuck greets enthusiastically. He offers a bandaged fist to bump, and this 'Ren' complies. "Where've you been, man? You've been gone for weeks!"
Somehow this uptight, too-mature-for-his-age kid has become a loose, excited child in less than a minute. The transformation shocks Rex, a little.
The man in front of them tugs back his hood, revealing a dark, bat-like face; he has black, slitted eyes, a furry snout instead of a nose, and sharp, intimidating fangs. And that's not even mentioning the giant, extremely distracting ears Ren has stuck to the sides of his head.
Yet Tuck doesn't so much as flinch when Ren smiles, fangs flashing dangerously in the night.
"No need to worry about me, half-pint. I've been around." He says, a slight lisp to his voice from his protruding teeth. "You gonna introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah." Tuck smiles sheepishly; it seems he'd forgotten about Rex in the moment.
"Ren, this is Rex - Rex, this is Ren Zhou Lim."
"What, you collecting 'r' named people now?" Ren asks, amused. Nonetheless, he shakes Rex's hand. It's one of the weirdest sensations of Rex's life - the man has a paw, not a hand, and it's tipped with sharp claws. They dig into Rex's fleshy, vulnerable palm, but he can't feel blood yet, so he doesn't completely freak out.
However, his brain does kinda do this fritzy, static-y thing.
Later, that is the reason he'll claim for what comes out of his mouth next.
"Nice ears." Rex blurts out.
Well, so much for making a good impression.
The man drops his hand like it's hot, and eyes him intently through beady black orbs. His smile has completely vanished.
"You mockin' me, kid?" He snarls.
Do not say 'yes'. The smartest part of Rex's brain urges him.
"No, I just -"
"Cause if you are, I will find you. Don't care whose friend you are."
"Whoah, Ren! Calm down!" Now this panicked, worried Tuck is the one Rex knows. "Rex didn't mean anything. He's one of us, bro."
Those are the magic words; instantly the creature-like glare disappears and the chill smile is back on his furry face. The quick changes from friend to threat are sending Rex's head spinning, and he smiles back but he can't like this guy, not when the slightest thing seems to send him into 'fight mode'.
"Sorry, dude." Rex manages weakly.
Now, Ren Zhou waves it away as if it's nothing. Two seconds ago you were gonna track me down and murder me to death, Rex thinks bitterly, oh, but now it's all cool?
"No worries."
There's a bit of a tight, painful silence.
Tuck swallows.
"So, uh, Rex is just gonna crash here for a while. His old place was a Quarry hotspot."
Ren looks alarmed.
"Seriously? And he's not dead yet?"
"Nah. But it's cool that he can stay here, right?"
Rex wonders why Tuck is asking permission from a man who hasn't been here for a few weeks. What, was Ren the boss of the 'hood, or something?
"Yeah, yeah. It's cool." Ren Zhou murmurs, but his head is tilted towards Rex, and Rex doesn't like the way those giant ears follow his every twitch and lean.
Suddenly, Rex remembers.
He has a friend. He doesn't have to deal with creepy people alone anymore.
Hallelujah.
Rex reaches over and tugs lightly on Tuck's sleeve, which is just as scratchy as the rest of him. When Tuck glances up, Rex looks at him and then meaningfully jerks his head away.
Hopefully, if they are on the same page still, Tuck will get the message.
Can we go now? Please?
Abruptly, understanding blooms in Tuck's orange orbs. He nods ever so slightly, then turns back to Ren.
"Uh, it's great seeing you, Ren. Stick around, we should catch up later." Tuck says, and begins to walk away. This does not distress the bat-man (Rex do not snicker right now do not do not), who treats it as normal.
"See you, Tuck." Ren calls. The man flips his hood down over his face, but even through the darkness, Rex swears he can see two red dots following him down the street.
The sounds of faint sirens and quietly zooming cars accompany the pair on their journey. Rex finds the city noises comfortable, almost familiar, and wonders if he's ever lived anywhere besides the big city. He wonders if he'll ever know if he didn't.
However, the tense silence that starts to linger as they walk is anything but comfortable. It stretches like a string, further and further, until it becomes so unbearable Rex has to snap it.
"So..." He begins, startled a little at how loud his voice is amongst the white noise. "That guy's your friend?"
Those teeth are definitely going to be haunting Rex's nightmares tonight, that's for certain he thinks with a shudder. Somehow, mummy-people are hilarious but bat-people? Just plain scary.
At those words, Tuck's shoulders hunch up and his head goes down.
"Eh," Tuck says, his face apologetic. "He grows on you."
It doesn't occur to Rex that maybe Tuck has very limited options of friends, and the mummy is making do with what he has - Rex has no experience with friends and thus can't understand why you would want to stick around a bad person.
So he rolls his eyes at Tuck, saying,
"What, grows on you like a fungus?"
At that Tuck does something unexpected; he laughs.
"Shut up." He says, playfully shoving Rex.
"Never, dude." Rex grins.
It's okay though; now they have each other.
That night, they sleep in a building that has multiple stories. Rex thinks it's pretty much the coolest thing ever, even if the fact that there are other people in the building (also homeless, also Changed) makes him twitch nervously all night.
It's alright, though. He has a friend.
Rex falls asleep listening to the sounds of Tuck's snores. He has never felt safer in his life.
When he wakes up the next day, it's to a bright, bright world.
(present day)
Rex walks around more confidently now. It takes a few days, and people still fear Quarry's retaliation, but there's a sense of awe, of hilarity under the fear. People are laughing at Quarry now. Not to his face, but still.
All the low-lives, the thieves and beggars and druggies, they are all hiding snickers when the subject of the rock-man is even mentioned. They are impressed by what someone (ahem, Rex) did. The fear has gone down, as Rex had hoped.
Everything is grand for a long while after that.
But nothing lasts forever.
A/N: Please don't care about Ren Zhou Lim. He's not really important. My hands are tied by canon though - there has to be SOME other people in the gang besides the Three. So...creepy bat EVO! Yay~
I am pretty proud of myself for coming up with an EVO, cause I kinda suck at creating monsters. And if you think it's weird that Rex freaked out at Ren-Zhou and not Tuck, you can pretend that Rex has a fear of bats (like Batman!) or that he just senses something off about the man in general.
Whichever you prefer.
Also, I feel like I should add that in the show, Tuck is depicted as a laid-back, pretty friendly guy. Here, he's tense and paranoid because he's been ostracized and friendless.
A few weeks in Rex's company will bring out his friendly side, though, so don't worry!(Not that any of you were worried...)
Sorry for so much rambling! Thanks for reading this crazy, messy fic! Please review and tell me what you think :D
Translations:
Tú no sabes lo que estás hablando! = You don't know what you're talking about!
Replies to reviews:
YellowAngela: Thanks for the review! And probably don't tell anyone but for the Chinese characters google translate did most of the work. Believe it or not, it's actually harder to get to accept the Spanish little squigly things than it is for them to accept Chinese characters. Go figure, huh?
Thanks again! You are awesome~
Sparky: Thank you so much for all your reviews! As to how/why Rex ended up in Hong Kong...heck if I know! But it's canon, so I'm going with it. And yeah, sorry, I'm gonna be a lot meaner to Rex before this story ends.
Thanks for reviewing! Hope you keep reading! ^^
Guest: Muchas gracias por la revisión! Lo siento por mi terrible español.
Espero que siga leyendo !